Nigeria’s goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will be back in action for Udinese on October 20 after serving a two-month suspension that briefly put his career in jeopardy.

Coolbase News reports that Maduka Okoye, 26, was sidelined in July after being accused of involvement in illegal betting. The incident stemmed from Udinese’s 2-1 win over Lazio, where the Super Eagles goalkeeper was booked for time wasting in the 64th minute.

It was alleged that the yellow card was deliberate, sparking fears he could be charged with sporting fraud and handed a lengthy four-year ban.

The disciplinary panel eventually chose a lesser conviction, ruling that the case fell under illegal betting rather than match-fixing. That decision kept the ban to two months, allowing Okoye to resume his role when Udinese face Cremonese later this month.

Since joining the Italian club in 2023, the Super Eagles star has cemented himself as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper, and his return is expected to boost the side as they push further up the Serie A table.

While Maduka Okoye prepares for his comeback in Italy, another Nigerian goalkeeper is beginning a new chapter. Super Eagles shot stopper Kayode Bankole has completed a move to South African outfit TS Galaxy, signing a two-year deal.

The 22-year-old left NPFL champions Remo Stars this summer after his contract expired. During his five years with the Sky Blue Stars, Bankole made 93 appearances and kept 43 clean sheets, performances that earned him a call-up to the national team, where he has been capped once.