Nigeria’s hopes of reviving their 2026 World Cup qualification marketing campaign have acquired a significant increase with the return of Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from harm.
The Udinese shot-stopper had been out for over a month after present process surgical procedure to repair a torn ligament in his proper wrist.
Nonetheless, Okoye has now returned to coaching together with his membership, elevating hopes that he might be obtainable for Nigeria’s essential qualifiers towards Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.
Based on reviews from Tutto Udinese, the 24-year-old was among the many gamers who resumed coaching at Udinese’s Bruseschi coaching centre this week because the workforce prepares for his or her match towards Napoli.
The report confirmed that Okoye, together with teammates Keinan Davis and Kingsley Ehizibue, has totally recovered and is again in full coaching.
Udinese had introduced in December that Okoye wanted surgical procedure for his wrist harm, with medical consultants recommending quick remedy to revive full operate. His absence has been noticeable, however the Nigerian goalkeeper now seems to be able to return to motion.
Nonetheless, Okoye’s comeback comes at a time when he’s going through an investigation in Italy over an alleged betting scandal. Studies recommend that he’s being investigated for allegedly betting on himself to obtain a yellow card throughout Udinese’s Serie A match towards Lazio on 11 March 2024.
The reserving, which occurred within the sixty fourth minute for time-wasting, reportedly triggered an alert from Italian betting firm Sisal, which flagged uncommon betting patterns on that particular occasion.
Regardless of the controversy, Okoye has been one in every of Udinese’s key performers this season, making 14 league appearances and registering 42 saves—putting him amongst Serie A’s prime goalkeepers. His final match was a 2-0 defeat to Genoa, the place he made three necessary saves.
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Okoye selected to characterize Nigeria on the worldwide degree regardless of being eligible for Germany. He was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations however confronted heavy criticism after the workforce’s early exit.
The 24-year-old returned to the nationwide workforce beneath former coach Augustine Eguavoen, taking part in in Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Rwanda within the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
With new coach Eric Chelle now in cost, Okoye can be desperate to reclaim his spot as Nigeria push for his or her first win within the World Cup qualifiers.
The Tremendous Eagles have didn’t win in 4 video games and should safe back-to-back victories towards Rwanda and Zimbabwe to maintain their qualification hopes alive.
