By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye delivered a commanding display as Udinese claimed a hard-fought victory over Atalanta, with Nicolò Zaniolo’s goal proving decisive in the Serie A encounter.
Atalanta mounted late pressure in search of an equaliser, with Davide Zappacosta coming closest through a powerful half-volley that appeared destined for the top corner.
However, Okoye produced a stunning save to preserve Udinese’s lead and secure all three points when the final whistle blew.
The victory lifted Udinese into the top half of the Serie A table, underlining their growing consistency and defensive resilience this season.
Okoye’s recent performances have caught the attention of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who now faces a welcome selection dilemma in the goalkeeping department ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming World Cup play-offs in Morocco.
After serving a two-month suspension over a betting-related infraction, the 25-year-old shot-stopper has returned stronger, displaying renewed focus and confidence between the posts.
His form has firmly re-established him as one of the top Nigerian goalkeepers in Europe and a strong contender for a national team recall.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
