The Ivory Coast national team is heading into a massive World Cup showdown against Germany on Saturday. And they'll be doing it without one of their key attackers. Elye Wahi can't get into Canada. That is not a travel oversight. It is the direct result of a match-fixing investigation that started in France two weeks ago.
The 23-year-old striker was arrested back in France as part of an inquiry into suspicious betting patterns. The Athletic reported Wednesday that the investigation centers on a yellow card Wahi picked up while on loan at OGC Nice. The booking came during a Ligue 1 match against FC Metz on May 17. A booking that conveniently meant Wahi was suspended for the first leg of Nice's promotion/relegation playoff against AS Saint-Étienne. Multiple bets were placed on Wahi receiving that specific yellow card. That triggered a report to the French Football Federation and a visit from the anti-corruption unit.
He was questioned. No charges have been filed yet. The investigation is still open. But French authorities did let him travel to the United States for the World Cup. He even played in Ivory Coast's opener, a 1-0 win over Ecuador. That much went fine.
The problem is the game against Germany is in Toronto. And Canadian border officials apparently have not given Wahi the green light to enter the country. So he stays in the U.S. while his teammates cross the border and try to pull off a result against one of the tournament favorites.
This is not a suspension from FIFA or any football governing body. It appears to be an immigration issue tied directly to the active investigation in France. The Ivory Coast federation confirmed he will not be available for selection. No further details on whether he will rejoin the squad later in the tournament if the U.S. remains the host site for their remaining group games.
Wahi came up through the French youth system before switching his international allegiances to Ivory Coast. He has the kind of pace and direct running that can trouble any defense. Germany will not be unhappy about his absence.
For now, the striker is stuck in a weird limbo. Cleared to play in America. Not cleared to enter Canada. And waiting to see if a questionable yellow card from a mid-May league game costs him any more time on the World Cup stage.
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