Forward Elye Wahi will miss Ivory Coast's second World Cup match against Germany after he was denied a visa to enter Canada, the Ivorian federation said on Thursday.
Visa Denial Confirmed
The Ivorian federation (FIF) announced that the administrative authorizations necessary for Wahi's entry into Canadian territory had not been obtained. He will not be able to travel with the delegation to Canada for Saturday's match in Toronto. The FIF provided no reason for the visa refusal.
Second World Cup Player Denied Entry
Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry into Canada after Ghana's Thomas Partey, who is facing rape charges in Britain.
Investigation in France
Several media outlets reported that Wahi had been questioned by French police over suspicions of spot-fixing in a Ligue 1 match while he was playing for Nice. The case involves a yellow card Wahi received in a 0-0 draw with Metz in mid-May, after betting authorities noticed an unusual volume of bets on the 23-year-old being booked. The French football league (LFP) lodged a complaint to police for facts that could constitute sporting fraud and organized corruption.
Wahi's World Cup Journey
Born in France, Wahi switched allegiances to Ivory Coast in March and started in the Ivory Coast's opening 1-0 Group E victory over Ecuador on Sunday. The Elephants' final group stage match is against Curacao in the United States on June 25.
