Maduka Okoye, Dele-Bashiru affected by death of Pope Francis at 88

Super Eagles stars Maduka Okoye and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have been directly affected by the sudden postponement of Serie A fixtures following the passing of Pope Francis, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Holy Father died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, which has sparked significant adjustments in Italian public life, including football.

In response to the Pope's death, the Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A announced that all Monday matches in both the Serie A and Primavera 1 divisions would be postponed.

“Following the passing of His Holiness, Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A can confirm that today's league games in Serie A and Primavera 1 have been postponed. The date of the rearranged fixtures will be announced in due course,” read a statement from the league's official social media page.

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Okoye was set to feature for Udinese in their away clash against Torino at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino. Similarly, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and his Lazio teammates had been preparing for a crucial trip to Genoa as they continue their push for European qualification.

However, both matches, along with the rest of the day's schedule, have now been shelved out of respect for the late pontiff.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was a known lover of football and an avid supporter of San Lorenzo.

His passing has deeply impacted Italy, which is a country known for its strong Catholic identity. Hence, its decision to pause league action.

Meanwhile, Serie A is expected to release updates on the new dates for the affected fixtures in the coming days.