Grammy-winning singer Tems has shut down any romantic speculation involving Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, saying she does not date fellow Nigerian celebrities because she sees them as family.

The singer made the remarks during a red carpet interview at the 2026 BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, after an interviewer asked whether she would shoot her shot at the goalkeeper, who has gone viral in recent weeks for his looks.

Okoye has become one of the most talked-about Nigerian footballers on social media, with thousands flooding his pages after clips from Nigeria's recent international matches sparked widespread admiration online.

Tems said she knows who he is but does not know him personally. "I wish I did though. But shooting shots at him, we don't do that over here. We're friends, and we are family. I see my male colleagues as brothers," she said.

Although Tems did not win in the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist category at the ceremony, losing out to Kehlani, she performed her track "What You Need" from her 2025 EP "Love Is A Kingdom" to close out a memorable night.