Elye Wahi’s Ivorian passport fuels ‘Elephants’ switch rumours

Speculation is mounting over Elye Wahi’s international future after the OGC Nice striker reportedly acquired an Ivorian passport, signalling a potential change in allegiance to the West African giants.

The 23-year-old forward, who was born in the suburbs of Paris to Ivorian parents, has previously represented France at U21 and U23 levels. However, having never earned a senior cap for Les Bleus, the door remains open for him to represent the reigning African champions.

World Cup Ambitions – Elye Wahi

According to Sport Ivoire, Wahi is seriously considering a switch to the Ivory Coast national team. While his parentage makes him eligible, the acquisition of a passport is often the first formal step in the FIFA dual-citizenship transition.

Despite the rumours, there has been no official confirmation that the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) has formally initiated the paperwork with FIFA. If successful, Wahi could become a key asset for the Elephants ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Wahi is currently on loan at Nice from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. While he has managed to find the net three times in Ligue 1 this season, his progress was recently hampered by a sprained ankle. The injury has kept the clinical striker sidelined since February 15, and he is expected to undergo further assessment before returning to full training.

The pursuit of Wahi follows a growing trend of African nations aggressively recruiting top-tier talent developed in Europe. This strategy has seen mixed results recently; while many have made the jump, Cameroon was notably unsuccessful in their recent high-profile attempt to convince Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike to represent the Indomitable Lions.