Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye Banned From Football

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been banned from all football-related activities after being found guilty of involvement in illegal betting activities.

Maduka Okoye, who currently plays his club football in Italy, has been under investigation for several months following reports of irregular betting patterns linked to games in which he featured.

The outcome of the investigation has resulted in a ban that could last up to two years, pending appeals and further review.

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s two-month ban for illegal betting has shocked fans and officials.

The investigation stemmed from suspicious betting activity surrounding a yellow card he received for time-wasting during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024.

Authorities flagged unusual bets, primarily from the Udine province, placed on Okoye receiving a yellow card at odds of 8/1, allegedly generating over €120,000 in winnings.

Okoye, along with three friends, was investigated and referred to the disciplinary commission in June 2025.

 While a sporting fraud conviction could have resulted in a four-year ban, he was instead convicted on the lesser charge of illegal betting

The ban will commence with the Coppa Italia match against Carrarese on August 18, 2025, causing him to miss six Serie A games before becoming available again on October 19.

The 25-year-old Nigerian international, with 18 caps, joined Udinese from Watford in 2023.