Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, wey dey face investigation for suspected spot-fixing, no get authorization to travel to Canada for di team next World Cup match against Germany, di Ivorian soccer federation tok on Thursday.
Ivory Coast go face Germany on Saturday for Toronto. Di federation tok say Wahi no go fit travel wit di squad because “di necessary administrative authorizations for im entry into Canadian territory no fit obtain at dis stage.”
Wahi start for attack for Ivory Coast when dem beat Ecuador 1-0 for dia opening game for Philadelphia on Monday. Im go remain for United States pending di team return, di federation add.
Di French soccer league tok on Wednesday say an “unusual amount of bets” dem place internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game wit Nice for May. Di French league dem alert by partners monitoring betting markets about suspicious betting activity at international level concerning Nice home game against Metz on May 17, wey end 0-0, and for which Wahi dem show a yellow card.
Di French league say dem pass dis information to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as di French Football Federation.
When dem ask whether Wahi dem question by police, di Marseille prosecutor office tell di Associated Press say “a 23-year-old professional football player, competing for France Ligue 1 championship, dem arrest on May 29, 2026, as part of dia investigation.” Di office add say “di investigation concern alleged offenses of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.” Di player dem question while for police custody and dem release am without detention. Di office add say di investigation dey ongoing.
Wahi representatives no immediately respond to requests for comment.
Di Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) say dem no officially notify “of any judicial or administrative proceedings” concerning Wahi. “During dis particularly delicate period, di FIF offer its full support to di player and reaffirm its confidence for am,” e tok. “Elye Wahi remain an important member of di Ivory Coast national team.”
May 17 na di last round of Ligue 1 season. Less than two weeks later, Wahi help struggling Nice stay for Ligue 1 when im score twice for a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne for di second leg of dia promotion-relegation playoff.
Di 23-year-old Wahi join Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt for January and score nine goals for 18 games overall, helping Nice reach di French Cup final.
Spot-fixing na di illegal manipulation of a specific part of a match, often for betting purposes, typically without affecting di overall outcome of dat match.
