Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye’s injury return has significantly increased Nigeria’s chances of resurrecting their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
After having surgery to repair a damaged scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, the Udinese goalie has been out of commission for more than a month.
But now that he’s back to training with his team, Okoye could be called up before Nigeria’s crucial qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
As the team gets ready for their next match against Napoli, Tutto Udinese claims that the 24-year-old was one of the players who returned to Udinese’s Bruseschi training facility this week.
According to the report, Okoye has returned to full training following his injury setback, along with teammates Keinan Davis and Kingsley Ehizibue.
When Udinese first revealed in December that Okoye needed surgery after suffering a wrist injury, medical professionals advised prompt action to restore full functionality.
Although his absence has been felt, the Nigerian goalie now appears to be returning to the starting lineup.
But the Super Eagles player is apparently being investigated in Italy for possible involvement in a betting scandal, so his return to the field comes amid off-field turmoil.
Prosecutors are reportedly looking into allegations that Okoye wagered on himself to be sent off during Udinese’s Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024.
According to reports, the Italian betting company Sisal sent out an alert after spotting abnormal gambling patterns on that particular outcome due to the time-wasting booking that occurred in the 64th minute.
Okoye has been an outstanding player for Udinese this season despite the controversy; he has made 14 league games and recorded 42 saves, placing him among the best goalkeepers in Serie A.
In his final appearance, he made three vital stops in a 2-0 loss to Genoa.
Despite being eligible for Die Mannschaft, Okoye, who was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, chose to play for Nigeria on the international scene.
At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, he was the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalie, but after Nigeria’s early elimination, he came under harsh criticism.
The 24-year-old played in Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, marking his recent return to the national team under former coach Augustine Eguavoen.
As Nigeria frantically looks for their first victory of the World Cup qualifying season, Okoye will be keen to regain his place in the squad under new manager Eric Chelle.
The Super Eagles need back-to-back wins over Rwanda and Zimbabwe to resurrect their prospects of qualifying, since they are currently winless in four games.