Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is currently under investigation for alleged betting-related violations, has been granted permission to enter Canada for his national team’s World Cup match against Germany, according to a statement from the Ivorian football federation on Thursday.
Although the federation had previously indicated that the 23-year-old Wahi would not be able to travel to Canada, they later announced that the necessary authorizations had been obtained.
Wahi was a starter in Monday’s 1-0 victory against Ecuador in Philadelphia, and the Elephants will face Germany on Saturday in Toronto for their second match in the tournament.
Taous Ait, a spokesperson for the Canadian immigration minister, refrained from commenting on Wahi’s situation, citing the need for consent from the individual involved.
The French football league revealed on Wednesday that an “unusual amount of bets” had been placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a May 17 match while playing for Nice.
Monitoring partners raised suspicions about unusual betting patterns regarding Nice’s home game against Metz, which ended in a 0-0 draw, during which Wahi received a yellow card.
The league communicated this information to law enforcement and gambling authorities, as well as the French soccer federation.
When asked if Wahi had been questioned by authorities, the Marseille prosecutor’s office confirmed to The Associated Press that a 23-year-old professional football player competing in France’s Ligue 1 championship had been arrested on May 29, 2026, as part of the investigation.
The prosecutor’s office specified that the investigation involves alleged crimes such as organized fraud, sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. Wahi was interrogated while in custody but subsequently released without detention.
Wahi’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comments.
The Ivorian soccer federation stated it has not received any official notification “of any judicial or administrative proceedings” regarding Wahi. The federation expressed its “full support for the player and reaffirms its confidence in him.”
“Elye Wahi remains a vital member of the Ivory Coast national team,” they added.
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, and he has made a significant impact, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances across all competitions, helping the team secure a place in the French Cup final.
The French league season concluded on May 17, and shortly thereafter, Wahi netted two crucial goals in a 4-1 victory over Saint-Etienne, aiding Nice’s survival in the top division in the promotion-relegation playoffs.