Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been handed a two-month suspension for illegal betting following an investigation by Italian football authorities.
According to Football Italia, the Nigerian international and Udinese shot-stopper avoided a much harsher four-year ban for sporting fraud after disciplinary proceedings concluded this week.
The incident dates back to a March 11, 2024 Serie A match between Udinese and Lazio, during which Okoye received a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute while his team led 2-1.
Authorities flagged a spike in suspicious betting activity tied to the match, specifically bets predicting Okoye would be booked. Most of the wagers—placed at 8/1 odds and totaling over €120,000 in winnings—were traced to the Udine area.
Okoye and three acquaintances were subsequently placed under investigation. The case was reviewed by the Italian football disciplinary commission in June 2025.
While the 25-year-old initially faced the possibility of a four-year ban for alleged sporting fraud, the commission opted for a lesser conviction—illegal betting—which carries a shorter suspension.
His ban will begin on August 18, 2025, when Udinese face Carrarese in the Coppa Italia, and will see him miss six Serie A matches. He is expected to return to action on October 19.
Okoye, who has earned 18 caps for Nigeria, joined Udinese from English side Watford in 2023.
