Nigerian international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is scheduled for surgery in the coming days after suffering a serious injury to his right wrist.
The Serie A club, Udinese, confirmed the news on Saturday, revealing that Okoye will miss their upcoming match against Monza on Monday.
“Maduka Okoye has torn the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist due to trauma. He will undergo surgery to repair the ligament in the coming days,” Udinese announced on their official website.
While the club did not provide a specific timeline for Okoye’s recovery, medical sources suggest he could be sidelined for anywhere from eight weeks to potentially eight months, depending on the severity of the injury.
Okoye’s most recent appearance was in Udinese’s 2-0 defeat to Genoa last Monday, where he played the full match and made three important saves.
The 25-year-old has been a key player for the Italian side this season, making 14 appearances and recording 42 saves, ranking him among the top four goalkeepers in Serie A.
Okoye’s resilience is evident in both his club and international career. After a challenging time at Watford, where he struggled for playing time, he embraced a fresh start in Italy, aiming to revive his career.
He also overcame criticism after Nigeria’s early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, temporarily deactivating his social media accounts before returning to the Super Eagles.
This latest injury, however, raises doubts about his availability for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers set to begin in March 2026.
