Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been denied entry into Canada ahead of their group E World Cup clash against Germany on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was reported to have been arrested over match-fixing allegations in France sometimes last month, with reports suggesting that he had intentionally been booked during a league game for Nice against Metz.
He will now remain in the United States and will miss Ivory Coast clash against the four-time World Champions this weekend.
“The Ivorian Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published on this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concerning the Ivorian international Elye Wahi,” Ivory Coast FA said in a statement.
“To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him.
“In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team.
“The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to join the delegation’s trip to Canada. Indeed, the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.
“Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team’s return”, Ivory Coast said.
Wahi started Ivory Coast’s first game of the tournament against Ecuador but will be a major miss when they take on Germany at the Toronto Stadium.
He becomes the second player to be denied entry into Canada, after Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who was also absent from his side’s 1-0 win over Panama.
The former Arsenal midfielder had been denied entry because of ongoing criminal proceedings in England, where he faces seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Ivory Coast will then conclude their group campaign against Curacao on June 25 as they look to make it to the knockout for the first time in their history.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
