Nigerian singer Tems has responded after being asked whether she would date Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye during a red carpet interview at the 2026 BET Awards in Los Angeles. The singer made clear that she views fellow Nigerian celebrities as family rather than potential partners.
Tems' Response to the Dating Question
Responding to the interviewer's question on whether she would consider approaching the goalkeeper, Tems said: 'I know who Maduka Okoye is, but I don't know him personally. I wish I did, though. But shooting shots at him, we don't do that over here. We friend each other, and we are family.'
The question reflects a wider wave of attention Okoye has received in recent months. The goalkeeper has been trending globally across social media platforms for his looks and on-camera charisma, with fans and several outlets dubbing him 'the sexiest footballer in the world.'
Maduka Okoye's Viral Fame
The viral attention picked up significantly after footage of his pre-match walk during a Super Eagles international friendly circulated widely online. Since then, his photos, physique, and interview clips have continued to draw attention from internet users far beyond football circles.
Tems herself was one of the headline performers at this year's ceremony, taking part in a star-studded tribute to Lauryn Hill, who received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award. She also featured in a performance segment honouring the late D'Angelo, alongside Ari Lennox, Raye, and Durand Bernarr.
Tems' BET Awards Nominations and Performance
The singer entered the night with three nominations: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, BET Her for 'First,' and Viewers' Choice for 'Raindance' alongside Dave, but left without a win in any category. Her response to the Okoye question has continued to generate conversation online, with many fans reacting to how she handled the subject on camera, even as she maintained that she sees her fellow colleagues strictly as family.
Okoye has not publicly responded to the interview at the time of this report.
