Maduka Okoye shines as Udinese earns draw against Sassuolo

Maduka Okoye had a stellar performance as Udinese secured a 1-1 draw against Sassuolo, with the goalkeeper’s brilliance earning plaudits.

In a match where both teams were seeking crucial points to avoid relegation, Grégoire Defrel opened the scoring for Sassuolo in the 41st minute, only for Florian Thauvin to equalize for Udinese just three minutes later.

However, it was Maduka Okoye who stole the spotlight with his outstanding saves throughout the game. The Super Eagles goalkeeper showcased his quality with at least four difficult saves, ensuring Udinese left the field with a valuable point.

According to Sofascore, Okoye earned a rating of 7.8, making him the best-performing Udinese player on the field. Among all players from both teams, only Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt surpassed Okoye’s rating with a 7.9.

Despite conceding 17 goals in 13 Serie A appearances for Udinese, Okoye has kept three clean sheets and continues to impress with his performances.

However, despite his consistent displays, Okoye has yet to establish himself as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper. He missed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and was snubbed by caretaker coach Finidi George for recent friendlies against Ghana and Mali.

As the search for a new Super Eagles coach continues, Okoye will be hoping to catch the eye of the next coach and earn a spot in the national team setup.