Nigerian international and Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been handed a two-month suspension from all football-related activities following his involvement in an illegal betting incident during his club duties with Udinese in Italy’s Serie A.
The decision, announced by Italian football disciplinary authorities, comes after an investigation into suspicious betting activity surrounding a March 2024 match between Udinese and Lazio. During the match, Okoye received a yellow card for time-wasting, a move that coincided with a sudden surge in bets predicting the caution—raising red flags and triggering a formal probe.
Though initially facing the more serious charge of sporting fraud, the 24-year-old was eventually found guilty of a lesser offence: illegal betting involvement. He will now serve a ban from August 18 to October 19, 2025, missing several key matches for both Udinese and potentially the Super Eagles during this period.
In a brief statement through his representatives, Okoye said: "I fully respect the decision made by the disciplinary committee, even though it has been a very painful process. I’ve learned valuable lessons from this experience and will use the time away to reflect, reset, and return stronger—both mentally and professionally."
Okoye, who has earned 18 caps for Nigeria and recently secured the starting goalkeeper position at Udinese, is now set to miss six Serie A matches and may be unavailable for Nigeria’s crucial AFCON and World Cup qualifier preparations. His absence leaves both Udinese and the Super Eagles needing to make quick adjustments in goal.
In response to the situation, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) released a short statement: “While we do not condone any breach of sporting ethics, we stand by our players during difficult moments. We trust Maduka will emerge from this as a better professional and remain committed to his career and his country.”
With the suspension ending in mid-October, Okoye will be eligible to return just before the mid-season international break. For now, Nigeria’s coaching crew is expected to monitor the situation closely as they assess alternative options for upcoming fixtures.