Nigerian Footballer Maduka Okoye and Rapper Cardi B Spotted on Date Night in Venice
Romance rumours are intensifying around Nigerian football star Maduka Okoye and American rapper Cardi B after the pair were recently spotted enjoying a date night in Venice, Italy. The duo were recorded having dinner and chatting in a canal-side restaurant, weeks after spending time together at a fashion show in Paris.
According to a video shared by American media platform TMZ, Okoye, 26, and Cardi B, 33, were seen at a night out in Venice, dining side by side with a view of the canal. The clip has sparked widespread speculation about a potential romantic relationship, though neither party has officially confirmed the rumours.
Fans React to Budding Romance
The comment section on social media has been filled with fans and observers weighing in on the budding romance and its implications for the pair's careers and status. One observer hailed the rapper for moving from one good-looking man to a better-looking one, while others expressed concerns over the age difference and their previous dating history.
TMZ posted on X (formerly Twitter): "EXCLUSIVE: Cardi B and Nigerian soccer star Maduka Okoye are keeping the good times rolling in Italy ... sitting side by side for a swanky dinner overlooking a Venice canal." The post included a video of the pair.
Previous Sighting at Paris Fashion Show
Their latest hangout follows a previous sighting at the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2026 Haute Couture Show in Paris on June 8, 2026, during the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Clips showed the Nigerian goalkeeper helping Cardi B to a seat next to him and handing her a hand fan to keep cool. Another clip captured the pair engaging in a conversation on a balcony, with Cardi B visibly smiling.
Fans pointed out how Cardi B appeared taken by Okoye, who has been making headlines for his good looks. The attention on Okoye's appearance has surged during the World Cup, with viral videos of women gushing over him.
Okoye's Background and Rising Fame
Maduka Okoye, who plays for Italian club Udinese, was born in August 1999 to a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a German-French mother. While his good looks have always been a talking point among football fans, the ongoing FIFA World Cup has brought him wider attention.
At the recent BET Awards, Nigerian international music star Tems was asked whether she would consider a date with Okoye. She replied that she "wished she knew who he was" as she does not follow football.
Cardi B's Relationship Status
The potential romance between Okoye and Cardi B is likely to boost his fame outside football. Although his relationship status is private, there are rumours that he has split with his British girlfriend. Cardi B, a mother of four, is single after parting ways with her ex-boyfriend and father of her fourth child, NFL star Stefflon Diggs.
