Maduka Okoye set for Serie A return after betting ban

Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is expected to make his return to active football with Italian Serie A side Udinese following the conclusion of his lengthy ban.

The news, initially disclosed by fellow teammate, Daniele Padelli on Udinese Tonight, a show that airs regularly on Monday on TV12, of short stopper comeback to the squad.

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Super Eagles and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has received a two-month ban from the FIGC for a violation of fair play, but was found not guilty of match fixing and gambling rules breaches. pic.twitter.com/FgZhZRmDz1

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Okoye was sanctioned late July after been found guilty of deliberately earning a yellow card during a match against Lazio as part of a rigged betting scheme.

Padelli emphasised Okoye’s readiness for competition

Despite the serious nature of the infraction and the subsequent ban, Okoye’s dedication to his craft reportedly never wavered. Udinese’s current stand-in first-choice goalkeeper, Padelli, said that the Nigerian is training hard to come back.

“He’s training well, as if he were supposed to play every week, maybe even more than before..”

Padelli emphasised Okoye’s readiness for competition, stating, that the 26 year old is ready but it all depends on if the coach will use him.

“He’s prepared well in recent months, now the ‘break’ is over and it’s up to the coach to decide who to play. The only certainty is that I’ll end up even further down the pecking order (laughs).”

With the ban officially lifted, all eyes will now be on Udinese coach Andrea Sottil to see when and how Okoye will be reintegrated into the squad.