EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is in joyous mood after making his debut for Udinese in their 2-1 home loss to Cagliari in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia round of 32 clash.
The clash against Cagliari was the first game for the goalie in 14 months.
The 24-year-old joined the Italian side from Watford but had to wait three months before getting his chance to play.
Okoye made eight saves during the encounter and was rated Udinese’s best player despite conceding a late equaliser which forced the game to extra time.
The former Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper also made 73 per cent pass accuracy from the 38 touches he made.
Despite the loss, Okoye was delighted with his teammates’ display.
“It was unfortunate but I think that in recent times we have been developing a good mentality, offensive and pattern,” Okoye said.
“I thank the club for giving me this opportunity to play, I will learn from this experience. It’s been a long time since I saw the pitch, I also thank the fans. I’m sure I will enjoy playing for this shirt.”
“I think we pushed hard, some of us have waited a long time for this moment. We wanted to play and win, it’s difficult to finish like this because we conceded goals in the last minute. I would have been ready to face penalties but unfortunately, we didn’t get there,” the goalkeeper added.
However, the goalie is full of confidence that his serie A debut will come anytime soon for Udinese.
Okoye has missed out on many Super Eagles games and will be full of hopes that coach peseiro will extend invitation to him for Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe later this month.