Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi denied Canada entry for World Cup match

The Ivory Coast Football Federation (FIF) confirmed on Thursday that striker Elye Wahi will not travel with the team to Canada for their World Cup friendly against Germany in Toronto this weekend, as his entry permit has not yet been finalized.

The announcement came one day after Wahi was linked to an investigation into suspected corruption in sports. French authorities said they have detected abnormal betting patterns related to a yellow card Wahi received during a Ligue 1 match last month while playing for Nice.

Wahi has not commented and has not been identified as a suspect in the case. A spokesperson for the Marseille prosecutor's office said a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was detained on May 29 as part of an investigation into organized fraud, organized sports corruption, possession of stolen goods, and money laundering.

Wahi started as striker in Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the World Cup opener on Monday in Philadelphia. The FIF said he will remain in the United States until the full team returns.