2026 World Cup: Ivory Coast international questioned by French police in an investigation into suspicious sports betting

While participating in the 2026 World Cup with Ivory Coast, Elye Wahi found himself at the center of a legal case in France. The 23-year-old striker, who played for OGC Nice this season, was taken into custody last May and questioned as part of an investigation into alleged manipulations related to sports betting, according to revelations by "The Athletic".

The investigation concerns the Ligue 1 match between Nice and Metz, played on May 17th and ending in a 0-0 draw. Authorities became interested in this match after several alerts reported unusual betting activity specifically targeting a yellow card shown to Elye Wahi.

During this match, the Ivory Coast international was indeed cautioned in the 35th minute for a late tackle on FC Metz's Senegalese defender Sadibou Sané, after having already escaped punishment a few moments earlier following a foul on Bouna Sarr.

This fifth warning of the season automatically earned him a suspension for the first leg of the relegation play-offs against Saint-Étienne.

Three days later, back in the Nice starting eleven for the second leg, Wahi distinguished himself by scoring a brace in the 4-1 victory which secured the club's survival in Ligue 1.

However, it was after this meeting, on May 29, that he was questioned by investigators specializing in the fight against sports corruption.

The Marseille prosecutor's office has confirmed the arrest of a 23-year-old Ligue 1 player as part of a judicial investigation into alleged organized fraud, sports corruption, receiving stolen goods, and money laundering. However, authorities have never publicly revealed the player's identity.

According to The Athletic, the man in question is indeed Elye Wahi. The media outlet specifies that the former French youth international, who recently opted to represent Ivory Coast, was released after questioning. At this stage, no legal proceedings have been initiated against him and the investigation is ongoing.

This situation did not prevent him from joining the Ivory Coast national team to play in the World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the Elephants' first match against Ecuador, played in Philadelphia, Wahi started. Very active offensively, he notably hit the crossbar before Amad Diallo scored the winning goal in the final minutes (1-0).

When questioned by "The Athletic", FIFA declined to indicate whether it had been informed of this procedure before the start of the competition or to specify whether it could have an impact on the player's participation in the tournament.

Elye Wahi is expected to join the Ivory Coast national team in Toronto, where the Elephants will face Germany on the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.