Ivorian striker Elye Wahi will be absent from Côte d’Ivoire’s second World Cup fixture against Germany after he was denied a Canadian visa, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced on Thursday.
The administrative authorisations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory have not been obtained at this stage, the FIF stated, confirming that Wahi will not travel with the team for Saturday’s match in Toronto. No official explanation for the visa refusal was provided by the federation.
Wahi is the second World Cup player barred from entering Canada, following Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who was denied a visa while facing rape charges in the UK. Meanwhile, French media reported that Wahi was recently questioned by authorities regarding alleged spot-fixing during his time at Nice.
The investigation centers on a yellow card Wahi received in a Ligue 1 match against Metz in May, after suspicious betting patterns were noted. The French football league (LFP) has filed a police complaint for possible sporting fraud and organized corruption.
The Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was arrested on May 29, 2026, in connection with ongoing inquiries into organized fraud, sporting corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. The player, who was released after questioning, remains under investigation.
The FIF expressed its support for Wahi, calling him an important element for the Côte d’Ivoire national team. Born in France, Wahi switched allegiance to Côte d’Ivoire in March and featured in their 1-0 Group E win over Ecuador on Sunday. Côte d’Ivoire’s final group game is against Curaçao in the United States on June 25.
Ghana’s Thomas Partey missed his team’s dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after Ghana’s appeal against his visa denial was unsuccessful. Partey faces seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault in Britain, stemming from allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He denies all charges.
AFP
