Nigerian singer Tems has responded to questions about a possible romance with Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after she was asked about him during a red carpet interview at the 2026 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
When the interviewer asked if she would consider making the first move, Tems said she sees fellow Nigerian celebrities as family, not as romantic partners.
“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,” she said.
The question comes as Okoye continues to attract global attention on social media for his looks and camera presence. Fans and several media outlets have even called him “the sexiest footballer in the world.”
Interest in the goalkeeper grew after a video of his pre-match walk during a Super Eagles international friendly went viral. Since then, his photos, physique and interview clips have continued to draw attention from people beyond football fans.
Tems was one of the headline performers at this year’s BET Awards. She joined a star-studded tribute to Lauryn Hill, who received the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award. She also performed in a tribute to the late D’Angelo alongside Ari Lennox, Raye and Durand Bernarr.
The singer was nominated in three categories: Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, BET Her for ‘First,’ and Viewers’ Choice for ‘Raindance’ alongside Dave. She did not win in any of them.
Her comments about Okoye have continued to stir reactions online, with many fans discussing how she handled the question while making it clear that she sees her fellow Nigerian stars strictly as family.
Okoye had not publicly responded to the interview at the time of this report.
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