By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
OGC Nice striker Elye Wahi has taken a major step toward representing the Côte d’Ivoire national football team, completing key biometric procedures for an Ivorian passport in a move that puts him on course for a potential switch of national allegiance ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 23‑year‑old, currently on loan at OGC Nice from Eintracht Frankfurt, has not featured for the senior France national football team despite representing France at various youth levels, leaving the door open for him to play for the Elephants.
A video circulated by the Ivorian consulate in Paris showed Wahi being welcomed as he completed the registration process for his Ivorian passport, a crucial step in FIFA’s nationality change procedure, which requires formal documentation before players can be cleared to represent another nation.
Wahi has previously expressed openness to switching allegiance given his Ivorian heritage, and local media report that a discreet meeting with Emerse Faé, initially hesitant about the idea, helped convince the coach of Wahi’s potential value to the Elephants’ World Cup project.
A switch would make Wahi eligible to feature for Côte d’Ivoire at the global tournament to be co‑hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June to July 2026, potentially bolstering a striking department that includes the likes of Sébastien Haller, Evann Guessand and Vakoun Bayo.
However, while the passport acquisition represents significant progress, Wahi has not yet received an official senior call‑up from the Ivorian federation and remains uncapped at senior competitive level. A final decision will hinge on FIFA’s approval of his nationality switch and a selection by Faé.
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