Big boost for Eric Chelle as injured Super Eagles star returns ahead of Rwanda, Zimbabwe ties

Nigeria’s hopes of reviving their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign have received a significant boost with the return of Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from injury, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Udinese shot-stopper has been sidelined for over a month after undergoing surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.

However, Okoye has now resumed training with his club, setting the stage for a potential call-up ahead of Nigeria’s must-win qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March.

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According to Tutto Udinese, the 24-year-old was among the players who returned to Udinese’s Bruseschi training center this week as the squad prepares for their upcoming clash against Napoli.

The report confirmed that Okoye, alongside teammates Keinan Davis and Kingsley Ehizibue, has rejoined full training after recovering from his injury setback.

Udinese initially announced in December that Okoye required surgery following the wrist injury, with medical experts recommending immediate intervention to restore full functionality. His absence has been felt, but the Nigerian goalkeeper now looks set to regain his place between the sticks.

However, Okoye’s return to the pitch comes amid off-field controversy, as the Super Eagles star is reportedly under investigation in Italy over alleged involvement in a betting scandal.

Reports suggest that prosecutors are examining claims that Okoye placed a bet on himself to receive a yellow card during Udinese’s Serie A match against Lazio on March 11, 2024.

The booking, which came in the 64th minute for time-wasting, reportedly triggered an alert from Italian betting company Sisal, whose algorithm detected suspicious wagering patterns on that specific outcome.

Despite the controversy, Okoye has been a standout performer for Udinese this season, making 14 league appearances and registering 42 saves—ranking among Serie A’s top goalkeepers. His last outing came in a 2-0 defeat to Genoa, where he pulled off three crucial stops.

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, Okoye opted to represent Nigeria at the international level despite being eligible for Die Mannschaft. He was the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations but faced heavy criticism following Nigeria’s early exit.

The 24-year-old recently returned to the national setup under former coach Augustine Eguavoen, featuring in Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

With new boss Eric Chelle now in charge, Okoye will be eager to reclaim his spot in the squad as Nigeria desperately seek their first win of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles currently sit winless in four games and need back-to-back victories against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to revive their qualification hopes.