Nigeria keeper Maduka Okoye happy to return for Udinese

Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, has expressed happiness after returning to mount the post for Italian Seria A side Udinese Calcio in their 1-1 draw League match against Cremonese on Monday.

Maduka Okoye returns to action for Udinese after serving a 2-month ban.

We need healthy competition in goal for Super Eagles with Stanley Nwabali. 👋 pic.twitter.com/NVhYivIAgX

— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 20, 2025

Okoye was initially serving a two-month ban by Italian football authorities, for illegal betting (or a violation of the general principle of fairness under the Federal Sports Justice Code), stemming from an investigation into suspicious betting activity on him receiving a yellow card for time-wasting during an Udinese vs. Lazio match in March 2024.

Okoye will aim for straight starting role for Udinese

This was the first action for the 26 year in the 2025-26 season, and after the game he went on his Instagram to express joy on his return stating that football is what he loves doing the most.

“Happy to be back. back to doing what I love the most. Back to fighting alongside my teammates back to fighting in front of our fans. Back to doing what I’m doing since a young boy back to following the path my father fought for back to having fun

“Back to chasing dreams, back to doing what I live for and back to doing what I’d die for.”

Okoye will aim for straight starting role for Udinese in a bid to keep them in the Italian top flight League, and also fight to find he’s way back to Nigeria’s men senior national team, the Super Eagles, who will be in action in November for the 2026 World Cup qualifier playoffs.