The timeline of events suggests that Wahi was taken into custody on May 29, less than a fortnight before the tournament began. After a period of questioning by French police, the Nice striker was released while the investigation continued to gather evidence. This allowed him to join up with the Ivorian national team ahead of their crucial group-stage fixtures.
Confirming the details of the operation, a spokesperson for the Marseille public prosecutor’s office provided a detailed statement: “We can confirm that a 23-year-old football player, competing in France’s Ligue 1, was arrested on May 29 as part of an investigation opened by the Marseille public prosecutor’s office into allegations of organized fraud, organized sports corruption, handling of proceeds of crime and money laundering.”
