Author of a hat-trick and an assist with Nice against Rennes (5-2), the striker Elye Wahi reopens the question of the Elephants’ centre-forward, having not yet scored for Ivory Coast.
Two penalties, a goal from open play and a gift for Jonathan Clauss: Elye Wahi settled the Nice evening almost single-handedly, in Nice’s victory over Rennes (5-2). The Ivorian striker scored a hat-trick and provided an assist, just days before the expected announcement of coach Hervé Renard’s squad for Ivory Coast’s match against Gambia, reports Afrikasoccer.com.
L’Équipe gave him a rating of 9/10 in its team of the round for matchday 9 of Ligue 1, while BFM Nice named him prince of the match and a major actor in the Azurean demonstration. Above all, the performance reopens a long-running issue for the national team: that of a reliable centre-forward for the Elephants.
A four-goal evening for Wahi
The number says it all: the Nice player was involved in four of his team’s five goals. According to ICI, such a performance is rare at Nice since 2018. The hat-trick, made up of two penalties and a goal from open play, comes with the assist for Jonathan Clauss, the Nice defender.
This evening fits into a broader dynamic. With 6 goals, Elye Wahi sits 5th in the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts, according to Ligue1.com.
The Ivorian number 9 puzzle
The timing is no coincidence. The performance comes just days before the expected announcement of Hervé Renard’s squad for the match against Gambia, specifies Afrikasoccer.com. Renard must deal with a long interim in search of a reliable centre-forward, and the Nice striker’s name naturally comes up in the debate.
But one figure tempers the enthusiasm: Elye Wahi has not yet scored for Ivory Coast, the same source points out. Nothing therefore guarantees he will be called up, with Renard’s list not yet announced. The Ligue 1 hat-trick is an argument, not a promise.
A transfer context still to be confirmed
Behind the scenes, the player’s situation could evolve. According to Bild, relayed by Hessenschau, there would no longer be any suspicion against him in the French investigation into possible match-fixing, which would improve Eintracht’s position on a potential transfer. Information to be taken with caution, which does not make a move to the German club a done deal.
For now, Wahi’s next Ligue 1 match with Nice, after this matchday 9, is yet to be dated. Renard’s squad for Gambia, meanwhile, is still to be announced.