Maduka Okoye, the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, is poised to make his comeback following the international break.
After serving nearly two months of suspension due to betting-related violations, Super Eagles’ custodian Maduka Okoye is on the verge of resuming his role as Udinese‘s first-choice goalkeeper. He is expected to feature in the club’s upcoming Serie A fixture immediately after the international hiatus.
Scheduled Return for Okoye
Udinese, nicknamed the Zebras, will face an away match at Stadio Giovanni Zini on Monday, October 20. Reliable sources from Mondoudinese confirm that Okoye is likely to start in goal for this encounter.
During Okoye’s absence, Razvan Sava stepped up as the primary goalkeeper. While some managers prefer to gradually reintroduce their main keepers by maintaining the backup for a few games, Udinese’s coach Kosta Runjaic appears ready to reinstate Okoye as the immediate starter without delay.
Maduka Okoye ranks 16th in the PulseSports30 list this year
Details of Okoye’s Suspension
Okoye’s suspension followed an investigation triggered by events during a Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024. In that game, he received a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute while Udinese held a 2-1 lead.
Unusual betting activity linked to this booking raised suspicions: a significant volume of wagers, mostly from the Udine area, were placed at approximately 8-to-1 odds predicting Okoye would be cautioned. The total payout for these bets reportedly exceeded €120,000.
In July 2025, Italian football authorities found Okoye guilty of illegal betting, a lesser offense, and imposed a two-month ban. This suspension began on August 18, 2025, coinciding with Udinese’s Coppa Italia match against Carrarese, and is set to end on October 19, 2025.