Maduka Okoye, the goalie for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Udinese Football Club of Italy, has been suspended for two months due to unlawful betting. Football Italia, an Italian news outlet, reported on Tuesday that the penalty comes after an investigation into questionable betting practices during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.
Just before authorities noticed “a rush of suspicious betting activity,” Okoye was given a yellow card for wasting time in the 64th minute. The provinces of Udine were linked to the majority of the wagers, which were placed at odds of 8/1 and allegedly produced winnings of over €120,000.
In June 2025, Okoye and three friends were the subject of an investigation, and they were referred to the disciplinary commission. The report claims that authorities only decided to convict him of the lesser charge of illegal betting, despite fears that he might face a four-year ban if found guilty of sporting fraud.
This is a far cry from the trial’s anticipated outcome, which was that he might have been banned for up to four years for sporting fraud. The ban will start on August 18, 2025, when Udinese plays Carrarese in the Coppa Italia.
After missing six Serie A games, he is anticipated to play again on October 19. After leaving Watford in 2023, the 25-year-old, who has 18 caps for Nigeria, joined Udinese.
