Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye remains uncertain for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury. Okoye underwent surgery in December after injuring his right wrist, and although the club did not specify an exact timeline for his return, he has already missed 13 games across all competitions.
Reports suggest that Okoye will be sidelined for at least another two weeks, meaning he may not be fit for the Super Eagles’ matches on March 17 against Rwanda and March 24 against Zimbabwe.
In the meantime, Udinese is dealing with a goalkeeping crisis after Razvan Sava, who had been deputizing for Okoye, suffered a compound fracture of his right fifth finger. Sava is set to undergo surgery in Rome, leaving third-choice goalkeeper Padelli to step up in the interim.
Okoye’s absence comes at a critical time for both Udinese and the Nigerian national team. In the World Cup qualifying campaign, Nigeria is currently in fifth place with just three points, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six matches remaining.
In addition to his injury woes, Okoye is under investigation for alleged suspicious betting patterns related to a yellow card he received during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio last year. If found guilty of any involvement in match manipulation, Okoye could face a significant ban, as Italian regulations impose severe penalties for athletes engaged in such activities.
As things stand, both Okoye and his club face a challenging period ahead, with the goalkeeper’s return to fitness and any potential disciplinary actions adding further uncertainty to his near future.
