Super Eagles and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been banned from football for two months due to illegal betting activities, as confirmed by Italian football authorities. The suspension, which will run from August 18 to October 19, 2025, means the Nigerian international will miss the start of the 2025-26 Serie A season.
The ban stems from suspicious betting activity linked to Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024, at the Dacia Arena. During the match, Okoye was booked in the 64th minute for time-wasting, which triggered a surge in unusual bets centered around him receiving a yellow card.
Investigators discovered that bets placed at 8/1 odds resulted in over €120,000 in winnings, with most of the activity traced to the Udine region. This raised serious concerns, leading to a probe by Italian authorities.
Okoye and three associates were placed under investigation in june 2025 and referred to the disciplinary commission. While there were initial fears that the 25-year-old could face a four-year ban for sporting fraud, the authorities ultimately charged him with illegal betting, for which he was found guilty.
The two-month suspension is a lesser punishment compared to the potential lengthy ban, but it still deals a blow to Okoye’s career, as he will miss crucial matches at the start of the season.
The ban comes at a difficult time for Okoye, who has been working to establish himself as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper. His absence will force the club to rely on backup options in the opening weeks of the campaign.
For the Super Eagles, the suspension could also affect his availability for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, depending on the fixture schedule.
As of now, Okoye has not publicly commented on the ruling. However, his legal team may explore appeal options to reduce or overturn the ban.
This case highlights the growing scrutiny of betting-related misconduct in football, with governing bodies taking a stricter stance against players involved in suspicious gambling activities.
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