(Sports Corresponden: Imran Sohail)
Ivory Coast Striker Elye Wahi Barred from Traveling to World Cup Match Amid Match-Fixing Investigation
Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been prevented from traveling to Canada for his team’s upcoming World Cup match against Germany while he remains under investigation in a suspected match-fixing case, according to the Ivorian football federation.
Ivory Coast is scheduled to face Germany on Saturday in Toronto.
The federation stated that Wahi could not join the squad because the required administrative approvals for entry into Canada were not granted in time. As a result, the striker will remain in the United States while the team travels for the match.
Wahi had featured in Ivory Coast’s opening World Cup game, where they secured a 1–0 victory over Ecuador in Philadelphia earlier this week.
The situation comes after the French football authorities reported unusual betting activity linked to a Ligue 1 match involving Wahi. According to the French league, an unusually high volume of international bets was placed on Wahi receiving a yellow card during a May match between Nice and Metz, which ended 0–0. Wahi was booked during that game.
Officials said the matter was flagged through betting monitoring systems and subsequently reported to relevant police and gambling authorities, as well as the French Football Federation, for further investigation.
The case remains under review as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the betting patterns.
