Super Eagles and Udinese Goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye is being investigated for a betting scandal and could be banned from all competitions if found guilty.
According to reports from Messaggero Veneto, Maduka Okoye bet on receiving a yellow card during a match against Lazio on March 11, 2024 and in the 64th minute, he was booked for time-wasting.
Prosecutors suspect that Okoye deliberately sought to receive the yellow card to profit from the bet as such the Nigerian international faces accusations of fraud.
This development is a significant blow to Okoye, who had been enjoying a successful season with Udinese prior to his injury and surgery, with impressive statistics which earned him praise as one of the best shot-stoppers in the league.
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If found guilty, Okoye may face severe penalties, including a minimum four-year ban from all competitions and potential legal repercussions. However, Okoye’s lawyers vehemently deny the allegations, stating they are baseless and unsupported by concrete evidence.
Udinese will be hoping that Okoye is not found guilty after the investigations, as they are only six points behind Fiorentina who sit sixth and may need the experienced goalkeeper in between the sticks to make a late push for European spots.
Okoye will also be eager to clear his name, as he will be hungry to prove his quality to new Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle ahead of the next international break in March.
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