Nigerian international and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is set to undergo surgery in the coming days following a significant injury to his right wrist.
The Serie A club disclosed the development on Saturday, confirming the player’s absence from their upcoming Monday fixture against Monza.
“Maduka Okoye has torn the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist following a trauma. He will have surgery to repair the ligament in the next few days,” the club announced on their official website.
While Udinese did not specify the duration of Okoye’s recovery, medical estimates suggest he could be sidelined for a period ranging from eight weeks to as long as eight months, depending on the severity of the injury.
Okoye’s last appearance came in Udinese’s 2-0 loss to Genoa last Monday, where he completed the full match and made three crucial saves.
This season, the 25-year-old has been a key figure for the Italian side, making 14 appearances and registering 42 saves—placing him among the top four goalkeepers in Serie A.
The goalkeeper’s journey back to prominence is a testament to his resilience. After a challenging stint at Watford, where he struggled for minutes on the pitch, Okoye embraced a new chapter in Italy, seeking opportunities to rebuild his career.
His perseverance also reflects in his international career. Following Nigeria’s early exit at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Okoye faced intense criticism, leading him to temporarily deactivate his social media accounts.
However, he has since returned to the Super Eagles, featuring in the recent 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in Uyo during the final match of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
This latest setback, however, casts doubt on his availability for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying matches scheduled to begin in March 2026.
