AFCON 2025
Maduka Okoye, Nigeria’s national team goalkeeper and Udinese shot-stopper, has been slapped with a two-month football ban after being found guilty of illegal betting.
The suspension, effective from August 18, 2025, is a lenient outcome compared to a potential four-year ban for sporting fraud.
The investigation began after a Serie A match on March 11, 2024, between Udinese and Lazio, where Okoye was booked for time-wasting in the 64th minute while his team led 2-1.
Authorities detected unusual betting patterns on that specific yellow card, with bets generating over €120,000 (₦214,848,000) in payouts, mostly placed in and around Udine.
Okoye and three associates were probed and referred to the disciplinary commission in June 2025.
The two-month ban will see him miss Udinese’s Coppa Italia clash with Carrarese on August 18 and the first six Serie A matches of the 2025-26 season.
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