Nigeria Calls Maduka Okeye Goalkeeper Again For World Cup 2026 Playoff After Match Fixing Sentence

JAKARTA - Maduka goalkeeper Okeye has been recalled to the Nigerian squad ahead of the 2026 Africa Zone (CAF) World Cup Qualifiers this week in Morocco after two months of suspension for his involvement in an illegal betting scheme.

Goalkeeper Udinese, who faces a ban of up to four years for sporting fraud, was accused of deliberately receiving a yellow card for wasting time in the 64th minute of the Serie A Udinese vs Lazio match when his team was 2-1 up.

Authorities marked a series of suspicious betting activity centered on goalkeepers who received yellow cards, which allegedly generated more than 120,000 euros (approximately IDR 2.3 billion) in betting wins with an 8/1 chance with a majority stake based around Udine City.

Okeye, along with three of his friends, was investigated. In the end, the 25-year-old -- who has played 18 times for the Nigerian national team -- slipped from severe punishment and has only been banned from playing for two months since October 2025.

The former Watford goalkeeper is back amid growing questions about the temperament and performance of today's first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. In fact, some have asked the Chippa United goalkeeper to be crossed out.

Nwabali has been involved in various clashes with opposing players, almost escaping a yellow card penalty that has the potential to jeopardize its availability.

All of this sparked calls for Okeye's recall. He returned home coach Eric Sekou Chelle a reliable and immediate reserve player.

Apart from Okeye, in determining the list of players consisting of 24 people, Chelle still relied on the players who performed brilliantly in the last few matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualification First Round, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi, and star striker Victor Osimhen. Chidera Ejuke has also been recalled.

Also present were talented young defender Benjamin Fredericks, midfielder Frank Onyeka and Wilfred Ndidi, as well as striker Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman.

SemiAjayi defenders, suspended for one game after collecting two yellow cards in 10 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, will miss Thursday's match, November 13, 2025, against Gabon.

However, he is expected to be available for the final of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Second Round if the Super Eagles beat Gabon.

Most of the players had arrived at the team's training base in Rabat ahead of the match despite the initial controversy on Monday, November 10, 2025, when midfielder Iwobi - who recently made his 89th appearance for Nigeria - caused a social media storm by uploading a silent video from the view of his room.

It was interpreted by the audience as his comments about hotels that did not meet the standards.

The post immediately drew criticism of the NFF ( Nigerian Football Federation) and calls for Super Eagles' residence to be changed.

It was unclear whether it caused officials to talk to the midfielder, but within hours, he posted a clarification on Snapchat and said he meant nothing by the post.

"Life is about perspective. Since I took the photos I took, people think these people don't know to be grateful."

"I never said anything. In life, there are people who don't have pages, some have no beds."

"I'm comfortable, I'm playing Mario Kart. Let me go and focus, friend. I have a big game to come," Iwobi said in a post on Snapchat.

Nigeria will face Gabon in the semifinals scheduled at Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco, with a capacity of 22,000 people.

While Cameroon will face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in another semifinal at El-Barid Stadium with a capacity of 18,000 people, also in Rabat.

The winner of the semifinals will meet in the final. The champion will advance to the intercontinental playoffs, where they will fight for two tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

Nigerian squad

Goalkeeper: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania); Maduka Okoya (Udinese FC, Italy)

Defender: William Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Oluwesemilo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympios, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC, France); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium)

Central: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, United States); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium)

Front: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta BC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla FC, Spain); Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Askor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Russia)