Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is being investigated into suspected match-fixing, has not been authorized to travel to Canada for his team’s next match against Germany, the Ivorian soccer federation said on Thursday.
Ivory Coast faces Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The federation said Wahi will not be able to travel with the squad because 鈥渢he necessary administrative authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.鈥�
Wahi started in attack for Ivory Coast when it in its opening game in Philadelphia on Monday. He will remain in the United States pending the team鈥檚 return, the federation said.
The French soccer league said on Wednesday that an 鈥渦nusual amount of bets鈥� were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 game with Nice in May.
The French league was alerted by partners monitoring betting markets about suspicious betting activity at international level concerning Nice鈥檚 home game against Metz on May 17, which ended 0-0, and in which Wahi was .
The French league said it passed this information to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as the French Football Federation.
Asked whether Wahi was questioned by police, the Marseille prosecutor’s office told the Associated Press that 鈥渁 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France鈥檚 Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026, as part of their investigation.”
The office added 鈥渢he investigation concerns alleged offenses of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering.鈥� The player was questioned while in police custody and was released without being detained. The office added the investigation was ongoing.
Wahi鈥檚 representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) said it has not been officially notified 鈥渙f any judicial or administrative proceedings鈥� concerning Wahi.
鈥淒uring this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him,鈥� it said. 鈥淓lye Wahi remains an important member of the Ivory Coast national team.鈥�
May 17 was the last round of the Ligue 1 season. Less than two weeks later, Wahi helped struggling Nice stay in Ligue 1 when he scored twice in a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne in the second leg of their promotion-relegation playoff.
The 23-year-old Wahi had joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 18 games overall, helping Nice reach the French Cup final.
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