Nigerian international Maduka Okoye has voiced his frustration following Udinese’s 3–1 defeat to Juventus in their Serie A clash at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.
The match began with early drama as Dušan Vlahović put Juventus ahead from the penalty spot, but Nicolò Zaniolo equalized for Udinese before halftime to make it 1–1. The hosts, however, regained control in the second half, with goals from Federico Gatti and Kenan Yıldız sealing a comfortable win for the Turin giants.
Despite the scoreline, Okoye was one of Udinese’s standout performers, pulling off several crucial saves, including a stunning stop to deny Filip Kostić from long range just before the interval. His heroics kept the game within reach for much of the contest.
Speaking after the match to Udinese’s official website, the Super Eagles shot-stopper admitted the result was disappointing but praised his teammates’ resilience:
“We played well as a team. It’s always tricky against Juventus,” Okoye said. “We’re not happy, but we know we played a good game. We’ll take the positives and move on to the next one.”
The 24-year-old also credited manager Kosta Runjaic for the team’s steady improvement this season:
“We’ve all made progress together this season, and it’s the result of all our work. The coach is ambitious, and we always want more,” he added.
Okoye, who recently returned to consistent first-team action, has been in fine form for Udinese this campaign. His strong performances have once again put him in the spotlight, with many Nigerian fans calling for his inclusion in the Super Eagles squad ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.
If his current form continues, Okoye could be set for a key role in Nigeria’s push to return to the global stage.
