Current situation: Has Udinese dropped Maduka Okoye from squad over betting scandal?

Reports have emerged suggesting that Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye may be facing challenges both on and off the pitch at Udinese, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles goalie has found himself at the centre of swirling reports regarding his exclusion from the team’s registered squad list for the 2024/25 Serie A season.

Reports circulating in the Nigerian media claim that Italian authorities recently searched Okoye’s residence as part of an investigation into the matter.

Adding fuel to the fire, Udinese’s decision to replace Okoye in the squad list with Norwegian goalkeeper Egil Selvik has led to different questions.

However, Soccernet.ng’s findings suggest a different narrative. A reliable Italian journalist, Nicola Angeli with knowledge of Udinese’s operations, clarified that Okoye’s removal from the squad is primarily due to injury concerns.

The Nigerian international is reportedly sidelined with an injury that is expected to keep him out of action until March. In such cases, Serie A clubs often deregister injured players temporarily to accommodate other squad needs.

While there is confirmation that authorities are investigating the betting allegations, there has been no official statement from Udinese linking Okoye’s squad exclusion to the scandal. The club has remained tight-lipped, and has offered no public comment on the allegations or the goalkeeper’s status.

It is not uncommon for clubs to make adjustments to their registered squads based on player availability. For now, Okoye’s absence appears more related to his fitness and recovery timeline than any disciplinary action tied to the alleged betting scandal.