"I wish I did" - Tems responds to viral Maduka Okoye dating question amid goalkeeper's global popularity

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems has earned praise online after gracefully shutting down a question about Super Eagles' handsome goalkeeper Maduka Okoye during a red-carpet interview at the 2026 BET Awards held on Sunday, June 28.

In a clip that has since gone viral, the interviewer asked Tems whether she knew the “trending Super Eagles goalkeeper” before jokingly asking if she would “shoot her shot” at the Udinese star.

Tems smiled before replying:

“I wish I did. We don’t shoot shots over here. We friend each other and we are family, sisters and brothers.”

Watch the clip below.

At the 2026 BET Awards, Tems joined forces with American rapper Tierra Whack to perform a soulful cover of the Fugees’ classic hit "Fu-Gee-La".

The duet was part of a star-studded, all-star musical tribute honoring hiph-hop and R&B icon Lauryn Hill, who was celebrated as the inaugural recipient of the Living Legend Icon Award.

Tems' response quickly drew applause across social media, with many praising the San Diego FC minority owner for handling the awkward question with humour and dignity while avoiding speculation about her personal life.

One user wrote: "She said: I’d rather chew glass . Nigerian babes >>>>>"

Another commented: "perfect response to that…cause tf was that question ?"

One other user was absolutely loving Tems' energy, responding: "She answered the question for all Nigerian babes, what do you mean shoot shots? We don’t do that here."

Another user commented: "Have I mentioned that I love Tems so much today?"

The exchange comes as Maduka Okoye continues to enjoy an extraordinary surge in global popularity following Nigeria’s pre-World Cup friendly against Portugal.

The 26-year-old Udinese goalkeeper went viral after clips of his pre-match walk spread rapidly across social media, earning admiration from fans around the world and reportedly adding more than 700,000 followers to his Instagram account in just over two weeks.

The phenomenon has transformed the Super Eagles goalkeeper into one of football’s most talked-about personalities away from the pitch, with international media also taking notice of his newfound popularity.

While the interviewer attempted to link two of Nigeria’s biggest stars through a playful dating question, Tems’ composed response instead highlighted mutual respect and camaraderie, earning her widespread praise and adding another memorable chapter to Okoye’s remarkable rise as a global internet sensation.