Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will undergo surgery in the coming days after tearing the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
The Serie A club confirmed the injury on Saturday, stating that the goalkeeper sustained the ligament tear due to trauma and will miss their Monday match 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,” Udinese announced on their website.
While the club did not specify how long Okoye will be sidelined, medical experts suggest the recovery period could range from eight weeks to eight months, depending on the severity of the injury.
Okoye, 25, last played for Udinese during their 2-0 home loss to Genoa on Monday, completing the full match and making three crucial saves. His performance this season has been impressive, featuring in 14 games and making 42 saves, placing him among the top four goalkeepers in Serie A.
The injury comes as a setback in Okoye’s resurgence. After struggling for game time at Watford, the Nigerian international moved to Udinese, where he has been a consistent performer.
On the international stage, Okoye has faced ups and downs, including criticism following Nigeria’s early exit from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He temporarily left social media due to online abuse but made a return to the Super Eagles recently in a 2-1 loss to Rwanda during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in Uyo.
