Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been cleared to enter Canada and will be available for his country’s World Cup Group E clash against Germany on Saturday after initially being refused entry.
The 23-year-old Nice striker was reportedly arrested last month as part of an investigation into alleged spot-fixing in France’s Ligue 1.
Elye Wahi is accused of intentionally receiving a yellow card during Nice’s match against Metz in May, an incident that reportedly attracted unusual betting activity.
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Match-fixing involves deliberately influencing specific events in a match to benefit betting outcomes.
While French authorities confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player, they did not officially identify Elye Wahi.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) later acknowledged receiving reports of suspicious betting patterns linked to a booking involving the Ivorian international.
Earlier this week, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) stated that it had not been informed of any legal or administrative proceedings against Wahi but confirmed he had been unable to secure permission to enter Canada.
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However, the federation announced on Thursday that the necessary clearance had been granted, allowing him to travel with the national team.
According to reports from AFP, Canadian authorities delayed Wahi’s visa approval while seeking further details regarding his legal situation before eventually authorising his entry into the country.
In a statement, FIF said all required permissions had now been obtained and confirmed that Wahi would continue participating in the World Cup with the Elephants. The federation also expressed appreciation to all parties involved in resolving the matter.
Canada’s immigration authorities reiterated that all visitors are assessed individually under existing immigration laws, regardless of major sporting events. Officials noted that temporary resident permits may be issued in exceptional cases for individuals who may otherwise face entry restrictions.
Following their match against Germany in Toronto, the Ivory Coast are scheduled to face Curaçao in Philadelphia next Thursday.
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The investigation involving Wahi remains active. Prosecutors in Marseille said the arrest formed part of a broader probe into allegations of organised fraud, sports corruption, handling criminal proceeds and money laundering. Wahi was later released after questioning, with enquiries still ongoing.
The booking at the centre of the investigation resulted in Wahi receiving a one-match suspension after accumulating five yellow cards.
Elye Wahi missed the first leg of Nice’s relegation play-off against Saint-Etienne, which ended goalless, but returned for the second leg and scored twice in a 4-1 victory that helped Nice preserve their Ligue 1 status.
The LFP has not opened disciplinary proceedings at this stage, citing the ongoing police investigation and confidentiality requirements.
However, it said it reserves the right to take action depending on the outcome of the inquiry and stressed its commitment to protecting the integrity of its competitions.
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Wahi became the second player linked to the World Cup to face entry issues in Canada. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was previously denied a visa because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven rape charges and one count of sexual assault involving allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022.
He is expected to stand trial next year. Canadian authorities also determined that Partey had incorrectly stated he had never been arrested or charged with a crime, leading to his absence from Ghana’s World Cup victory over Panama.
An appeal by the Ghanaian government seeking temporary entry permission for Partey to participate in the tournament was later dismissed by a federal court in Ottawa.