Okoye Set to Return After Betting Ban
The 24-year-old goalkeeper from Udinese was banned in July after he was found guilty of illegal betting related to a Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024. During this match, he received a yellow card for time-wasting in the 64th minute. Investigators noticed unusual betting around this yellow card, with bets placed at odds of 8/1 in the Udine area, resulting in over €120,000 in winnings.
Although he avoided a more severe charge of sporting fraud, which could have led to a four-year ban, he received a two-month suspension starting August 18, 2025.
Since the ban, he has missed seven matches, including league games against Inter Milan and AC Milan, as well as Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa in September. He will also miss the upcoming qualifiers against Lesotho on October 10 and Benin on October 14.
His last match out of action will be Udinese’s Serie A game against Cagliari on October 5. He will be eligible to return for the match against Cremonese on October 20, and may make his comeback in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 against Juventus in December.
His return in November is important for Nigeria, especially with the Africa Cup of Nations starting in December, as he is a reliable backup to first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
Udinese will be glad to have him back, especially since they have let in as many goals as they have scored during his absence.
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