Udinese and Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is set to undergo surgery after sustaining a significant injury to the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist. The Serie A club confirmed the development on Saturday, noting that the injury resulted from trauma.
Okoye, 25, will miss Udinese’s Monday match against Monza, and while no official recovery timeline has been provided, the severity of the injury suggests he could be sidelined for weeks or even months. Recovery times for such ligament injuries range from 8 to 12 weeks in mild cases and up to 8 months in more severe situations.
The goalkeeper last featured for Udinese in their 2-0 home loss to Genoa, where he made three saves over 90 minutes. This season, Okoye has been pivotal for his club, appearing in 14 matches and ranking among Serie A’s top four goalkeepers with 42 saves.
**A Journey of Resilience**
Okoye’s story is one of resilience. After a challenging stint at Watford where he struggled for playing time, his move to Udinese has rejuvenated his club career. He also returned to international duty with Nigeria, featuring in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers despite facing criticism and online abuse following the Super Eagles’ early exit from the 2021 AFCON.
His injury, however, casts doubt on his availability for Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, set to resume in March 2024.
Udinese and Nigerian football fans alike will hope for a swift recovery for the talented goalkeeper, whose recent performances have shown his determination and ability to bounce back from setbacks.
