Wahi Authorized to Travel for Côte d’Ivoire Match
The Côte d’Ivoire striker Elye Wahi, currently under investigation for alleged match-fixing, has been granted permission to travel to Canada for his national team’s upcoming match against Germany, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced on Thursday.
Initially, the federation had stated that the 23-year-old would not be permitted to travel to Canada. However, a subsequent statement confirmed that the necessary authorizations had been secured. Wahi was part of the starting lineup for Côte d’Ivoire in their opening game held in Philadelphia on Monday.
Investigation Linked to Suspicious Betting Activity
The French football league reported on Wednesday that an "unusual amount of bets" had been placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1 match for Nice in May. The league was alerted by its partners who monitor betting markets about suspicious betting activity related to the Nice home game against Metz on 17 May, which ended in a 0-0 draw. In that match, Wahi was shown a yellow card.
The French league forwarded this information to the appropriate police and gambling authorities, as well as to the French Football Federation for further action.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation Details
The Marseille prosecutor’s office provided further details regarding the investigation:
"A 23-year-old professional football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on 29 May 2026 as part of their investigation."
"The investigation concerns alleged offences of organised fraud, organised sports corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering."
The player was questioned while in police custody and subsequently released without detention. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
Attempts to reach Wahi’s representatives for comment were not immediately successful.
FIF’s Position and Support for Wahi
The Ivorian Football Federation stated that it had not received any official notification regarding judicial or administrative proceedings involving Wahi. The federation expressed its support for the player during this sensitive time:
"During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important member of the Côte d’Ivoire national team."
Wahi’s Recent Career Highlights
Wahi joined Nice on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2026. Since then, he has scored nine goals in 19 appearances, contributing significantly to Nice’s progression to the French Cup final.
