Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye strengthened his claim for the Super Eagles’ number one spot with a commanding display in his side’s 1–0 victory over Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta on Saturday in the Italian Serie A.
The win at the Bluenergy Stadium ended Udinese’s poor run of form, having secured just one win in their previous five outings. In contrast, Atalanta’s struggles deepened as the Bergamo-based side extended their winless streak to six matches, with their last victory coming in September.
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Udinese took the lead in the 40th minute through Nicolo Zaniolo, the on-loan Galatasaray midfielder, who rifled a superb strike into the top corner following a precise cross from Hassane Kamara.
Despite dominating possession, Atalanta found it difficult to break down a well-organized Udinese defense marshaled by the in-form Okoye.
Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman came on in the second half but was effectively contained by the resilient Zebrette backline.
Okoye made several outstanding saves to preserve his side’s slender advantage, including a brilliant reflex stop to deny Davide Zappacosta late in the game.
His assured performance between the posts further strengthens his case as a top contender for the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper position.
The result lifts Udinese up the Serie A standings, while Atalanta—previously unbeaten domestically before this defeat—dropped to 11th place.
Okoye’s latest outing underlines his growing confidence and consistency, presenting a potential selection dilemma for Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle, as the team prepares for the CAF playoff in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
