.Udinese of Italy goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye faces suspension from his club’s next two Serie A fixtures following a straight red he got last weekend.
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Sports247 gathered that Okoye will miss this Saturday’s last fixture of 2025, at home against SS Lazio, as well as his team’s first match of 2026, away to Como on January 3rd.
This comes after he had a weekend to forget in the Italian Serie A, as his team lost scandalously 5-1 away to Fiorentina after he was sent off early at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
The evening started on a bright note for Udinese, as they enjoyed having Maduka present due to his recent omission from the Super Eagles’ squad to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Speculation has been rife that Okoye opted to stay out of the Eagles’ squad to AFCON 2025 if he could not be guaranteed a starting spot ahead of Stanley Nwabali, and his club backed him fully.
Sadly, got a rude shock for that decision, as they could not enjoy his presence in Sunday’s visit to Florence, and he is bound to be suspended for their next two games on account of being issued a straight red card.
The expulsion meant Okoye was not on the pitch to prevent what turned out to be a mammoth victory for Fiorentina and a glorious individual show by Moise Kean, as the hosts won their first Serie A game this season at the 16th attempt.
The Viola took full advantage after Okoye was dismissed for a collision with Kean outside the box and Mandragova soon hit target with a free-kick and Guðmundsson later netted his sixth goal this term with a beautiful finish.
Cher Ndour made it three before the break after heading home Nicolò Fagioli’s cross, while Kean tapped in a rebound for number four and got his brace after latching onto a through ball.
