The Nigeria international has had a difficult time for club and country over the last few months, and his personal life could be facing a tough time as well
In a night of drama, an Italian police patrol team came to the aid of an unnamed woman who has been linked to Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Soccernet.ng reports.
On Thursday night, the Carabinieri police patrol squad reportedly responded to a scene on Via Carducci in Udine, near the Ambassador Hotel, involving a troubled woman and her partner.
The woman, who was crying and half-naked while with her young son and dragging a suitcase, had been involved in a heated dispute with her partner and forced out of the hotel.
According to Telefriuli, the woman's partner is Udinese and Super Eagles striker Okoye.
However, the details of the altercation inside the hotel remain undisclosed. It is worth noting that the woman chose not to file any complaints, and the hotel management has not reported any disturbances.
Udinese Calcio, when approached by Telefriuli for a statement on the incident, categorically labeled it a “private matter.” The club emphasised that no element of “criminal relevance” has surfaced, and the incident does not involve the club in any capacity.
The incident, though creating a stir, seems to be contained within the realms of a personal disagreement, with law enforcement and the club asserting their non-involvement in any criminal aspect.
Tough time
The incident is the latest development during a difficult period for Okoye.
Once a promising talent when playing for Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam, Okoye was found surplus to requirement at Watford and sent on loan to Udinese this summer.
The 24-year-old goalie is yet to make an appearance in Serie A, but he was in action for Udinese when they crashed out of the Coppa Italia last month following a defeat to Cagliari.
Okoye's struggle has continued on the international scene.
The young shot-stopper has been displaced as Nigeria's number-one goalkeeper after a costly error at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2021.
His spot in Nigeria's squad for the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast in January is far from guaranteed.
