Ivory Coast star denied Canada entry ahead of Germany showdown

Ivory Coast will be without striker Elye Wahi for their clash against Germany after being denied entry to Canada amid an ongoing criminal investigation in France.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has confirmed that Wahi will not travel with the squad to Toronto for Saturday’s World Cup meeting with Germany.

According to BBC, the striker was unable to secure the administrative clearance required to enter Canada and will instead remain in the United States.

The decision comes amid ongoing legal proceedings following Wahi’s arrest in late May.

Despite the huge setback, the FIF stressed that Wahi remains part of the national team setup and is expected to stay with the squad programme while awaiting further developments.

Elye Wahi in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Cote D’Ivoire and Ecuador. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

In an official statement, the FIF said: “The Ivorian Football Federation has taken note of the various articles and information published on this Wednesday, June 17, 2026, concerning the Ivorian international Elye Wahi.

“To date, the FIF has not been officially notified of any judicial or administrative proceedings involving him. In this particularly delicate period, the FIF extends all its support to the player and reaffirms its confidence in him. Elye Wahi remains an important element of the Ivory Coast national team.

“The FIF also informs that the player will not be able to join the delegation’s trip to Canada. Indeed, the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage. Elye Wahi will therefore remain in the United States pending the team’s return.”

Wahi’s investigation relates to a Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz on May 17. Authorities are examining whether Wahi intentionally received a yellow card in the 35th minute, with suspicious betting activity reportedly flagged by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).

The booking was his fifth of the season and triggered a suspension for an important relegation play-off fixture. Investigators are exploring whether the incident formed part of a wider betting-related scheme.