Okoye poised to lift betting ban, targeting Udinese return this month

Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, will finally play for Serie A team Udinese later this month after being suspended for two months for unlawful betting.

After being found guilty of violating betting restrictions by Italian football officials, Okoye was suspended in July.

The event occurred on March 11, 2024, when Udinese and Lazio were playing in a league match. At that time, the 26-year-old was booked for time-wasting in the 64th minute, with his team ahead 2-1.

The Nigerian goalie was first feared to be charged with sporting fraud, which may result in a four-year suspension.

But instead of imposing a harsher penalty, the disciplinary panel found him guilty of unlawful betting.

On October 19, the suspension will formally end, allowing him to play in Udinese’s Serie A match against Cremonese the next day.

A comeback to the Super Eagles before their international friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in November may possibly be in the cards for Okoye, who has 18 caps for Nigeria.

Following his 2023 transfer from English Championship team Watford to Udinese, the former Sparta Rotterdam star has emerged as one of the team’s most important goalkeepers.