Just days before flying to the 2026 World Cup, Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi found himself in an unexpected situation when French police questioned him regarding suspicious activity in a Ligue 1 match.

Wahi, who was playing for OGC Nice during the 2025-26 season, was detained by anti-corruption officers on May 29, shortly after Nice secured their Ligue 1 survival with a 4-1 win over Saint-Étienne. This match saw Wahi score twice and earn the Man of the Match award, yet it also became a focal point for investigators probing potential match-fixing.

The investigation began after suspicious betting patterns were flagged regarding a specific event in Nice’s previous game against Metz on May 17—a scoreless draw. Wahi received a yellow card in that match for a reckless tackle on Metz defender Sadibou Sané, though he had committed a similar foul two minutes earlier on Bouna Sarr without being penalized. This fifth yellow card of the season earned him a suspension for the first leg of the relegation playoff against Saint-Étienne.

The French prosecutor’s office in Marseille confirmed the arrest, stating: “A 23-year-old Ligue 1 player was taken into custody on May 29 as part of an investigation into suspected organized fraud, sports corruption, money laundering, and concealment.” While the prosecutor’s office did not disclose the player’s identity, multiple reports identified him as Wahi, the former French youth international who had switched allegiance to the Ivory Coast in late 2025.

After being held for questioning, Wahi was released without charge. The investigation remains ongoing, and no formal charges have been filed against him. This allowed the striker to join the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, where he made his tournament debut in Philadelphia, combining well with teammate Yan Diomande and nearly scoring against Ecuador in a 1-0 victory.

The FIFA has not commented on whether Wahi’s arrest was known before the match or if it could impact his participation in the tournament. His next appearance for the Elephants is scheduled for Saturday in Toronto, where they face Germany in their second group-stage fixture.