FIFA WC 2026: Elye Wahi, reinforcement for Côte d'Ivoire?

After a discreet spell with OM, Elye Wahi was transferred last summer to Eintracht Frankfurt, in the Bundesliga. A championship that seemed to suit his style of play, but the French striker did not manage to make his place in Germany to the point of being relegated to the background.

This winter, Wahi decided to relaunch himself in Nice, leaving behind his German troubles. And so far, the least we can say is that his choice is profitable. Arrived in a Gym in great difficulty, the former striker of RC Lens floated on the coast and allows Nice to heal gradually by moving up in the Ligue 1 ranking (13th).

With 3 goals and an assist in 6 matches, Wahi is already making his mark at the Allianz Riviera and is apparently considering a selection with Ivory Coast.

The nod to Didier Drogba
Sunday evening on the occasion of the 20th day of Ligue 1, Elye Wahi freed the Allianz Riviera by scoring the equalizer with a quarter of an hour to go. At the time of celebrating this goal, his third in four Ligue 1 matches, the 23-year-old striker took over the legendary celebration of Didier Drogba, icon of the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire and idol of youth in his country.

A subliminal message sent to his/her country of origin through this nod that is anything but trivial, let alone emotionally. But in Côte d'Ivoire, opinions remain divided on the opportunity to select him a few months before the World Cup.

To discuss this issue, Sport News Africa interviewed Patrick Guytey, commentator on the New Ivorian Channel (NCI). The latter believes that "Côte d'Ivoire should not think of an individual, rather a collective. Because there is no exceptional striker who points the tip of the nose. There are promises and Elye Wahi can be one.

Clearly, Wahi is certainly making a brilliant debut in Nice, but he remains one of the centre-forward among the others, even if Evann Guessand, Sébastien Haller, Wilfried Zaha or even Vakoun Bayo are not as bright at the moment.

 « In 5 seasons I note that between France and Germany, he scored 15 goals overall in the championship. So yes, his return to France is promising, but it’s still frail to claim to be the spearhead of the Elephants," 

estimates Guitey.

the Ivorian journalist finds suspect the timing around a possible selection of the former Montpellier, but recalls an important element: only Emerse Faé will decide or not to summon him.

 « I am also wondering about the timing of lobbying a few months before the 2026 World Cup. But the choice belongs to Faé who will have to form a group to achieve what Côte d'Ivoire has never achieved. A place in the second round of a World Cup,"

 added Patrick Guitey.

Elye Wahi opens the door to Ivory Coast
Last June, Elye Wahi took advantage of his vacation to go to Côte d'Ivoire, his parents' country of origin for the first time, and sent a message of openness about the possibility of becoming an international Ivorian in the future. 

"The door is not closed. Today, I am here, we will see what will happen,"

 he said then. Remarks that did not fail to recall those he had made in 2022 when he was 18 years old.

«... Côte d'Ivoire to be excluded? For now, it’s France above all but I’m not closing any doors. We will see how my career unfolds and make the right choices,"

 explained Elye Wahi, as reported by MadeinPaillade.

At 23 years old now and without selection in the French team, it is unlikely to see him on Didier Deschamps’s list for the 2026 World Cup, even with six good months in Nice. However, he might have his chance with Ivory Coast. But the list of Elephants for the friendlies of March will already be decisive in the perspective of participation in the World Cup or not.