Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye receives praise after his return from a four-month suspension, enhancing his chances with the Super Eagles.
Okoye made a strong comeback with Udinese after missing the first eight matches of the season. His performance against US Cremonese featured several key saves, showing he was in top form.
Gianluca Nani, the club’s technical director, explained the decision to make Okoye the starting goalkeeper again. He noted, “Okoye has trained really well recently; it was almost impossible to score against him in training. We’re really pleased he’s back because he’s our starting goalkeeper, and there were never any doubts…”
This impressive return is timely for the Super Eagles, where the competition for the number one goalkeeper spot is heating up. With head coach Eric Chelle about to announce the squad for the important 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon, Okoye’s regained form and confidence in Italy make him a strong candidate for recall, potentially leading him back to the starting position.