06/18/26 10:11:00
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06/18 09:52 CDT Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi denied entry to Canada at World Cup
amid betting probe
Ivory Coast's Elye Wahi denied entry to Canada at World Cup amid betting probe
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer
Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi, who is under investigation for alleged
betting-related offences, has not been authorized to travel to Canada for his
team's next World Cup match against Germany, the Ivorian soccer federation said
on Thursday.
Ivory Coast faces Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The federation said Wahi, who is under investigation in France, will not be
able to travel with the squad because "the necessary administrative
authorizations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at
this stage."
Wahi started in attack for Ivory Coast when it beat Ecuador 1-0 in its opening
game in Philadelphia on Monday. He will remain in the United States pending the
team's return, the federation said.
The French soccer league said on Wednesday that an "unusual amount of bets"
were placed internationally on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a Ligue 1
game with Nice in May. The French league was alerted by partners monitoring
betting markets about suspicious betting activity at international level
concerning Nice's home game against Metz on May 17, which ended 0-0, and in
which Wahi was shown a yellow card.
The French league (LFP) said it passed this information to relevant police and
gambling authorities, as well as the French Football Federation.
Asked whether Wahi was questioned by police, the Marseille prosecutor's office
told the Associated Press that "a 23-year-old professional football player,
competing in France's Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026, as
part of their investigation."
The office added "the investigation concerns alleged offenses of organized
fraud, organized sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money
laundering." The player was questioned while in police custody and was released
without being detained. The office added the investigation was ongoing.
Wahi's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) said it has not been officially
notified "of any judicial or administrative proceedings" concerning Wahi.
"During this particularly delicate period, the FIF offers its full support to
the player and reaffirms its confidence in him," it said. "Elye Wahi remains an
important member of the Ivory Coast national team."
May 17 was the last round of the Ligue 1 season. Less than two weeks later,
Wahi helped struggling Nice stay in Ligue 1 when he scored twice in a 4-1 win
over Saint-Etienne in the second leg of their promotion-relegation playoff.
The 23-year-old Wahi had joined Nice on loan from German club Eintracht
Frankfurt in January and scored nine goals in 18 games overall, helping Nice
reach the French Cup final.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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