Elye Wahi has been denied entry into Canada ahead of Ivory Coast’s World Cup clash with Germany in Toronto on Saturday, with the 23-year-old forward unable to rejoin his teammates after being arrested by French police over alleged match-fixing offences.
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The Nice striker is the subject of an active investigation by French authorities into whether he deliberately accumulated a yellow card during Ligue 1’s final-day fixture between Nice and Metz on 17 May. Wahi was subsequently arrested on 29 May and released following a police interview, according to a report by The Athletic.
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Despite starting Ivory Coast’s opening Group match — a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Sunday — Wahi will not feature against Germany after the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed that “the necessary administrative authorisations for his entry into Canadian territory could not be obtained at this stage.”
The striker now becomes the second player at this tournament to be refused entry into Canada, following Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who faces rape allegations in the United Kingdom and was barred from travelling for his country’s 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Wahi is expected to remain at Ivory Coast’s base in Philadelphia as his teammates make the journey north to face Germany.
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