Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has been granted authorisation to enter Canada and will travel with the Elephants for their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E fixture against Germany in Toronto on Saturday, the Ivory Coast football federation (FIF) has confirmed.

The 23-year-old Nice forward had initially been refused entry into Canada, raising fears he would miss a critical match after already starting Ivory Coast's opening win over Ecuador last Sunday.

Spot-fixing allegations cloud Wahi's World Cup

Wahi's visa difficulties stem from a broader legal matter. He was reportedly arrested last month in connection with an alleged spot-fixing incident in Ligue 1, in which he is accused of deliberately earning a yellow card during Nice's match against Metz in May.

Spot-fixing involves manipulating specific match incidents — rather than the overall result — to allow individuals to profit through betting markets.

The public prosecutor's office in Marseille confirmed to The Athletic that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player had been arrested, though no name was given in the official statement. Shortly after, Ligue de Football (LFP) confirmed it had been alerted to an unusually high volume of bets placed on a booking involving Wahi.

Canadian authorities satisfied after review

According to AFP, Canadian immigration officials had delayed approving Wahi's entry while they sought further information about his legal situation. After that review, the necessary clearance was granted.