The Ivorian national team, strengthened by their victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, is gearing up to defend their status. To bolster their squad, reinforcements wouldn’t go amiss. It’s in this context that the Elye Wahi situation arises. The Lens forward presents an intriguing profile.
However, to the dismay of Ivory Coast supporters hoping to see him in national colors, Elye Wahi is unlikely to don the Ivorian jersey. His decision not to play for Ivory Coast was the result of careful consideration, driven by his desire to leave a lasting mark on the international football stage.
Encouraged by coach Jean-Louis Gasset and courted by Ivorian coach Idriss Diallo, Wahi faced a pivotal career choice. The offer was enticing: a guaranteed starting spot in the formidable Ivorian attack, an opportunity to showcase his talent and propel himself onto the global stage. Despite this, Wahi took the necessary time to weigh all his options. His final decision to decline Ivory Coast’s invitation was made with conviction and a long-term perspective. By choosing to represent the French U-21 team, he reaffirmed his connection to his homeland while pursuing his ambition to wear the senior blue jersey.
Since rejecting the Ivorian offer, Wahi has continued to forge his path in football with unwavering determination. His tenure at Lens has been marked by dazzling performances, making him indispensable to his team and a promising prospect for French football’s future. On the Ivorian side, it’s time to move on quickly. With Emerse Faé, there will be no weaknesses in this regard. The coach has already demonstrated this with the Tiémoué Bakayoko situation. Indeed, the latter has recently resurfaced.
Emerse Faé, firmness on the matter
Midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko, with only one cap for France in 2017, has recently hinted at the possibility of playing for the Ivory Coast Elephants. In response to his remarks, coach Emerse Faé had a response. “When I’m called up for the French team, I feel closer to Ivory Coast, even though the Blues remain my ultimate dream,” he believes. “Choosing between two nationalities is extremely difficult. If I were to play for Ivory Coast now, I would feel like I’m denying myself. But my position has evolved, I’m not saying yes or no,” he notably stated. Emerse Faé responded tactfully but firmly on the Talents d’Afrique show on Canal+ Afrique: “Tiémoué Bakayoko is an exceptional player, as he proved at Monaco, but his profile is not a priority for the Ivorian national team.”
In 2017, Tiémoué Bakayoko was at the peak of his career. A French champion with AS Monaco and selected for the French team by Didier Deschamps, the 23-year-old defensive midfielder had a promising future ahead of him. “Dual-nationality players should not be selected by default. We’ve established a mindset during the last Africa Cup of Nations that we don’t want to compromise,” Emerse Faé insisted. It thus seems unlikely to see the Parisian player represent the Elephants one day, at least not while Faé is in charge. The same could be true for Elye Wahi.
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