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Serie A: Maduka Okoye reflects on difficult moments on sideline

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Serie A: Maduka Okoye reflects on difficult moments on sideline

By Wale Mustapha

Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is relishing his return to competitive football after a challenging period on the sidelines.

The Udinese shot-stopper had been out of action since December, following a wrist injury sustained during a 1-1 draw against Genoa.

Okoye made his much-anticipated comeback in Udinese’s 1-1 away draw against Lazio on Monday night.

Reflecting on his recovery process, the 25-year-old admitted it had been a tough journey but expressed joy at being back on the pitch.

“I’m very happy, both for me and for the team. We’re all happy and we want to continue like this,” Okoye said.

“It was difficult to be out, but now I find a team that has grown in these months.”

The Super Eagles goalkeeper also took the time to thank his teammates, especially veteran goalkeeper Padelli, for their support during his recovery.

“Padelli, like the whole team, helped me a lot, I’m grateful for that. He’s a great goalkeeper and a great person,” Okoye added.

This season, Okoye has made 15 league appearances for Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese side, with his return signaling a positive step forward after a difficult spell.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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