Ivory Coast’s football federation said forward Elye Wahi will be allowed into Canada in time for Saturday’s World Cup group match against Germany, after earlier entry problems tied to a Ligue 1 spot-fixing probe. The ruling removes a major uncertainty for the team as they prepare for a pivotal fixture in the tournament.
Entry Issue Linked to Spot-Fixing Probe
The federation announced the clearance late Thursday, confirming that Canadian authorities had resolved the matter. Wahi’s travel had been in doubt after French prosecutors widened an investigation into alleged match-fixing in Ligue 1, which swept up several players and officials. The probe, still ongoing in France, hasn’t led to any charges against Wahi, but it created a bureaucratic hurdle for his entry into Canada. The federation did not disclose the specific reason for the initial denial, only that it was “resolved through diplomatic channels.” Ivory Coast now has its full squad available for the Germany clash.
World Cup Odds Favor Europe
Meanwhile, betting market Polymarket shows Europe as the heavy favorite to win the World Cup, with a 70.5% probability as of Friday morning. The odds reflect the continent’s depth of talent and recent tournament success, though they don’t directly factor in individual roster issues like Wahi’s temporary travel trouble. For Ivory Coast, the path to the knockout stage runs through Germany, a team that has also dealt with its own off-field distractions during the tournament. Saturday’s match kicks off at 8 p.m. local time in Toronto.
The team will hold a light training session Friday, with Wahi expected to join his teammates for the first time since arriving in Canada.
