Sawt Falasteen - Wahi granted Canadian visa for Ivory Coast World Cup match after delay

The Ivorian football federation (FIF) had earlier announced Wahi would miss Saturday's game in Toronto.

The FIF gave no reason for his initial visa refusal.

But later on Thursday a source told AFP that Canada had delayed Wahi's visa authorisation after requesting further information regarding his legal situation, before rubber-stamping his entry.

Several media reported that Wahi had been questioned by French prosecutors over suspicions of spot-fixing in a Ligue 1 match while he was playing for Nice.

The case revolves around a yellow card which Wahi picked up in a 0-0 draw with Metz on the final day of the season in mid-May, after betting authorities had noticed an unusual volume of bets being placed on the 23-year-old receiving a yellow card.

The French football league (LFP) announced on Wednesday that it had lodged a complaint to police for "facts which could constitute sporting fraud and organised corruption".

The public prosecutor's office in Marseille confirmed to AFP that "a 23-year-old professional footballer, playing in the Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026 in relation to an ongoing investigation".

That investigation related to "organised fraud, organised sporting corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering".

The public prosecutor said that the player had been released but that their investigations were ongoing.

The FIF pledged its support for Wahi, describing him as "an important element for the Ivory Coast national team".

Wahi's lawyer, Marie Dose, said earlier the player had been questioned "for a few hours" last month but was subsequently released.

"Elye Wahi is therefore not facing charges at this stage and is not subject to any judicial restrictions," she added.

Born in France, Wahi switched allegiance to Ivory Coast in March and started in their opening 1-0 World Cup Group E victory over Ecuador on Sunday.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Nice from German club Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Elephants' final group-stage match is against Curacao in the United States on June 25.

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed their last-gasp 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after his country failed with an appeal against his Canadian visa rejection.

Partey is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in Britain.

He denies the allegations.

D.Qudsi--SF-PST