Super Eagles and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has reportedly been implicated in an illegal betting scandal, with investigators alleging that he deliberately influenced a match outcome for financial gain.
According to a report by Ansa, Okoye is one of four individuals identified in a preliminary investigation by Italian authorities, which concluded that the 24-year-old intentionally received a yellow card for time-wasting during the 63rd minute of a Serie A fixture between Lazio and Udinese in March 2024.
Authorities claim that the booking was tied to a coordinated betting operation concentrated in the Udine region, generating illicit winnings amounting to €120,000.
Okoye had just returned to action in March after a period away, reportedly while the probe was ongoing.
The Italian Prosecution Office has indicated that a final report is imminent. Upon its release, formal charges are expected to be filed against the Nigeria international.
This development casts a shadow over Okoye’s recent resurgence with both club and country, particularly following his standout performance in a recent friendly against Russia.
