AFCON 2025
Nigeria international Maduka Okoye will be eligible to play for Udinese again on October 20, following the conclusion of his two-month suspension for illegal betting.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper was handed the ban in July following an investigation into suspicious betting activity during a Serie A match against Lazio in March 2024.
The issue centered on a yellow card Okoye received in the 64th minute for time-wasting, an incident that prompted a surge in unusual bets predicting his booking.
Crucially, while there were initial fears that Okoye could face charges of sporting fraud—which carry a potential four-year ban—the disciplinary panel opted for a lesser conviction on the grounds of illegal betting.
This two-month ban has seen Okoye miss six Serie A fixtures since it began in mid-August.
Having established himself as the Zebras’ first-choice goalkeeper since his 2023 arrival from Watford, Okoye is now expected to return to action when Udinese face Cremonese in a Serie A clash on October 20.
