Ivory Coast forward Elye Wahi has been ruled out of his country’s World Cup group-stage showdown with Germany after Canadian authorities refused him entry, dealing a significant blow to the Elephants’ attacking options.

The Ivorian Football Federation confirmed that the 23-year-old Montpellier striker will not travel with the squad for the match in Toronto, citing unresolved immigration issues.

The federation said the “administrative authorisations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory have not been obtained at this stage,” making his participation in the high-profile fixture impossible.

Wahi becomes the second player at this World Cup to be denied a Canadian visa, following Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who was also blocked from entering the country while facing legal proceedings in Britain.

The decision comes against the backdrop of an ongoing criminal investigation in France, where Wahi was arrested in May as part of a probe into alleged spot-fixing in Ligue 1.

According to reporting by The Athletic, investigators are examining whether Wahi intentionally sought a yellow card during a league match between Nice and Metz on May 17, amid suspicious betting patterns linked to bookings in that game.

Spot-fixing involves manipulating a specific incident within a match, such as a booking or a penalty, for betting purposes, without necessarily altering the final result.

A spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was detained on May 29 in an investigation into organised fraud, sports corruption, handling of criminal proceeds and money laundering. The player was released after questioning, and the inquiry remains active.

The French Professional Football League has opened its own review but stressed that no disciplinary measures have been taken so far, citing confidentiality requirements tied to the criminal case. The league reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of its competitions and warned that strong sanctions would follow if wrongdoing is proven.

Despite the legal cloud, Ivory Coast selected Wahi for the World Cup, and he featured for 55 minutes in their opening 1-0 win over Ecuador, offering mobility and depth in attack. His absence against Germany now forces coach Emerse Faé to reshuffle his forward line for one of the group’s decisive fixtures, with qualification stakes already rising.