Ivory Coast Forward Elye Wahi Barred From World Cup Match Over Match-Fixing Investigation

Ivorian forward Elye Wahi has been prohibited from traveling to Canada for Ivory Coast's World Cup match against Germany on Saturday in Toronto, the Ivorian Football Federation announced Thursday. The 23-year-old player is under investigation for suspected match-fixing and betting manipulation. The federation stated that Wahi could not travel with the squad because "the necessary administrative authorizations for entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage." He will remain in the United States pending the team's return.

Wahi started in Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia on Sunday. The investigation centers on suspicious betting activity surrounding a Ligue 1 match between OGC Nice and FC Metz on May 17, which ended 0-0. The French Football League reported unusually high international betting volumes on whether Wahi would receive a yellow card during that match—he subsequently did receive one. French betting market monitors alerted the league to the suspicious activity, which was then reported to relevant police and gaming authorities as well as the French Football Federation.

According to the Marseille prosecutor's office, a 23-year-old professional footballer competing in France's Ligue 1 was arrested on May 29, 2026, as part of the investigation. The probe concerns alleged offenses including organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. Wahi was interrogated under police custody and released without being detained. The investigation remains ongoing.

Wahi joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 18 total matches, helping Nice reach the French Cup final. Following the May 17 Ligue 1 season finale, he scored two goals in Nice's 4-1 playoff victory over Saint-Etienne in early June to secure the team's Ligue 1 survival. The Ivory Coast Football Federation stated it has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings against Wahi and expressed its support for the player, describing him as "an important member of the Ivory Coast national team."

Wahi's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.