By Dayo Awoniyi
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has hailed Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for his exceptional mental strength and composure following his impressive return to action in Udinese’s 3-2 victory over Lecce in the Italian Serie A on Sunday.
Okoye, who had not featured in a competitive match for nearly two months, delivered a commanding performance, producing several key saves that proved decisive in securing the win for the home side.
Speaking to Calciomercato after the match, Runjaic acknowledged the challenges Okoye faced during his spell on the sidelines but praised his professionalism and resilience in stepping up when called upon.
“Okoye hasn’t played for two months; he’s only been on the pitch in training. It’s not an easy situation for anyone,” Runjaic said.
“But he showed great focus and mental strength. This victory gives the whole team an important psychological boost.”
Okoye’s assured performance is expected to strengthen his case for a regular starting role as Udinese continue their Serie A campaign.
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.
