Beşiktaş reignite Okoye pursuit

Turkish Super Lig giants, Beşiktaş, have reportedly revived their interest in Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, as they look to strengthen their goalkeeping department. According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, the Black Eagles have added the Udinese goalkeeper to their list of transfer targets. Okoye is said to be open to a move to Turkey. Beşiktaş want a reliable shot-stopper to provide stronger competition for their current first-choice goalkeeper, Alexander Nübel. The 27-year-old has had a difficult season in Serie A and has come under heavy criticism for his performances. He has conceded 25 goals in 10 league appearances for bottom-placed Udinese, but that has not discouraged the Turkish club.

The former Watford and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper currently has a market value of €10m.Make PUNCH part of your everyday experience.Add us to your Preferred Sources

Okoye’s future with the national team is also uncertain. He was left out of Eric Chelle’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania, with the coach opting for Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo. The omission followed his late arrival at the Super Eagles camp in September, when he was the last player to report ahead of the Madagascar qualifier in Uyo. Related News Nigeria deserved to win — Tanzania coach

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Chelle said the door had not been closed on him.

“Maduka Okoye is in the national team. I made the choice like the other players. The national team is not closed to him or them. I made my choice,” the coach said at his pre-match press conference. The coach added that his decision went beyond performances on the pitch. “When I made my choice, it was based on what happened on the pitch and around it. We need to have a good position in the group. How do we feel within that group?” he said. Okoye had appeared to be working his way back into contention after impressive displays against Poland and Portugal in June 2025. Since making his debut against Brazil in October 2019, he has made 21 appearances for Nigeria. A move to Beşiktaş could give Okoye the chance to rebuild his form away from the pressure he is facing in Italy, if the Turkish club decides to formalise its interest.

Peter Akinbo Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories