Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been found guilty of involvement in betting and suspended for the next two months, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Okoye have been under investigation in relation to the recording of unusual betting flows on the Lazio-Udinese match, particularly concentrated on the occurrence of a yellow card for Okoye, which was quoted by betting agencies at least 8 times the stake.
In particular, bets were recorded that led to winnings of more than €120,000, mostly from bets placed at fixed locations in the province of Udine.
In a press release issued by the Court we read: “The National Federal Court, Disciplinary Section, definitively pronouncing, improves to Mr. Emil Maduka Okoye the sanction of 2 months (two) of disqualification in official races, starting from the start of the first official competition of the 2025/2026 season”.
At the moment the manner which he was involved in the betting hasn’t been made clear, but he will certainly miss the first two months of the season. A hard blow for Udinese where he is the first choice goalkeeper. The club is yet to issue a statement on the ruling by the court.
The ban will also rule him out of the senior national team of Nigeria upcoming world cup qualifiers games in September against Rwanda and South Africa respectively.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
