Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye continued his impressive run of form as Udinese sealed a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Atalanta, handing Ivan Jurić’s men their first league defeat of the season.
A first-half strike from Nicolò Zaniolo proved to be the difference at the Dacia Arena, as Udinese earned a crucial three points that lifted them into the top half of the table.
Composed Display from Okoye
While it was not his busiest outing between the sticks, Okoye delivered a calm and commanding performance for his first clean sheet of the season.
The Nigerian goalkeeper was precise with his distribution, completing 22 passes and eight accurate long balls, helping Udinese build confidently from the back.
Okoye’s composure has been a defining feature since reclaiming his place as first-choice goalkeeper, providing stability and assurance to a team that has looked more organized defensively in recent weeks.
Lookman Struggles, Atalanta Falter
It was a frustrating evening for Ademola Lookman, who came off the bench in the 59th minute but failed to spark any real attacking momentum. The Nigerian winger completed just six accurate passes and did not register a single cross in a subdued performance.
For Atalanta, the defeat adds pressure on head coach Ivan Jurić, whose side has endured a stuttering start to the season. The Bergamo club has now managed only two wins in ten league games and just one victory in three UEFA Champions League fixtures, leaving supporters anxious about the team’s direction.
Speaking after the match, Jurić admitted that his side fell short in both energy and execution:
“For the first time, the performance was negative in every sense,” he said.
“We didn’t play with the right intensity or sharpness. We’ll have to work hard to fix that. Today was simply bad.”
Udinese on the Rise
Udinese’s win pushes them up to eighth place, boasting four wins from eight matches, an impressive start for a club operating on one of Serie A’s more modest budgets.
Since Okoye’s return to the starting lineup on October 20, the Friulian side has lost just once, a narrow defeat to Juventus, highlighting the growing influence and consistency of the Nigerian shot-stopper.
If he maintains this form, Okoye could be a vital figure not only for Udinese’s European push but also for Nigeria’s upcoming World Cup playoff campaign, where his renewed confidence could prove invaluable between the posts.
