Super Eagles goalie, Maduka Okoye is set to miss Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month against Rwanda and Zimbabwe as he is expected to return to full competitive fitness by April 13.
Okoye recently underwent successful surgery for a ligament injury, which was initially expected to side-line him for several months. However, another twist emerged when reports surfaced that he was being investigated for allegedly placing a bet to receive a yellow card during a Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024.
Okoye’s lawyer Maurizio Conti recently denied allegations labelled against his client also revealing the authorities visited his apartment in search of betting tickets but only found gloves and football boots.
According to Transfermarkt, Okoye will only be cleared for competitive action on April 13. This timeline effectively rules him out of Nigeria’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Although there were reports that Okoye has resumed training, it remains uncertain whether his wrist has fully healed from surgery.
With Stanley Nwabali as the only proven goalkeeper for the Super Eagles, head coach Eric Chelle may need to explore options within the Nigeria Premier Football League or consider eligible players of Nigerian descent abroad to bolster the squad.
