Ivory Coast have received a major boost ahead of their pivotal FIFA World Cup Group E encounter against Germany after striker Elye Wahi was cleared to enter Canada following a brief immigration setback.
The 23-year-old forward, who plays for Nice, had been unable to join the Elephants in Canada after his entry was temporarily delayed while Canadian authorities sought further clarification regarding an ongoing legal investigation in France.
However, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced on Thursday that the matter had been resolved and that all required permissions had been secured, paving the way for Wahi’s return to the squad.
“The necessary authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory have now been obtained,” the federation said in a statement. “As a result, the Ivorian international is authorised to travel with the Elephants’ delegation to Canada and will continue his participation in the competition.”
The development ends several days of uncertainty surrounding the attacker, whose availability for Ivory Coast’s second group-stage fixture had been in doubt.
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Mise à jour concernant Elye Wahi
La Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) informe que la situation administrative d’Elye Wahi a évolué favorablement.
Les autorisations nécessaires à son entrée sur le territoire canadien ont désormais été obtenues.
— Équipe Nationale de Football Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮🐘 (@equipenatciv) June 18, 2026
According to AFP, Canadian authorities requested additional details concerning Wahi’s legal circumstances before ultimately approving his entry into the country.
The striker is currently the subject of an investigation in France relating to alleged spot-fixing during a Ligue 1 fixture between Nice and Metz in May. Prosecutors in Marseille confirmed that a 23-year-old top-flight player was arrested as part of an inquiry into organised fraud, sports corruption and money laundering. The individual was subsequently released without charge, with investigations still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the French Professional Football League (LFP) has acknowledged reports of suspicious betting patterns linked to a yellow card issued to Wahi during the match in question. The governing body has not opened disciplinary proceedings and is awaiting the outcome of the judicial investigation before determining any further action.
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Wahi featured from the start in Ivory Coast’s opening World Cup victory over Ecuador and is now expected to be in contention for selection when the Elephants face Germany in Toronto on Saturday. Ivory Coast will then round off their Group E campaign against Curacao as they pursue a place in the knockout stages.
