Ivory Coast international Elye Wahi has been denied entry into Canada ahead of the West African country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup second Group E match against Germany on Saturday amid ongoing criminal prosecution in France. 

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, stating the 23-year-old was not granted authorisation to enter the North American for the match and will remain in the United States of America.

“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,” the federation stated. 

The Nice forward is currently under criminal investigation after he was arrested by French police on suspicion of match fixing two weeks before the World Cup, with authorities trying to determine if he deliberately earned a yellow card against Metz on May 17.

Wahi was subsequently released from custody without charges. 

The player was not immediately named by authorities but Ligue de Football (LFP) on Wednesday confirmed they had been alerted to “an unusually high volume of bets placed on a warning involving the player Elye Wahi”

Speaking further, the FIF noted that it was aware of the stories in the media about Wahi but maintained that the federation had not received any judicial notification concerning the player. 

The federation added, “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 Peoples Gazette last week reported that Ghana’s Thomas Partey was also not granted visa to enter Canada for the Black Stars against Panama on Thursday amid lingering rape trial in the United Kingdom.