By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is set to return to action for Udinese after serving a two-month suspension related to betting allegations.
The 26-year-old Super Eagles shot-stopper was suspended in July following claims that he deliberately picked up a yellow card during Udinese’s 2-1 win over Lazio, where he was booked in the 64th minute for time-wasting.
Initial reports suggested that Okoye could face charges of sporting fraud and a potential four-year ban.
However, after a review by the disciplinary panel, he was handed a reduced two-month suspension for breaching betting regulations.
With the ban now served, Okoye is expected to be available for selection when Udinese face Cremonese in their Serie A fixture on October 20.
Since joining the Zebrette in 2023, Okoye has established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, delivering consistent performances in the Italian top flight.
His return is seen as a major boost for Udinese as they aim to improve their position in the league.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
