Maduka Okoye has been named in the Serie A Team of the Week for Matchday 29, earning the recognition after seven saves kept Udinese competitive in a 1-0 home defeat to Juventus on Saturday, Footynaija.com reports.
Juventus arrived at the Bluenergy Stadium as clear favourites and played that way. Luciano Spalletti’s side registered 22 attempts on goal, eight on target, and created chance after chance without being able to add to Jeremie Boga’s 38th-minute strike.
Okoye denied Boga twice, kept out Manuel Locatelli from close range with a diving save, blocked a goal-bound Fabio Miretti shot in the dying minutes, and made two crucial stops from Kenan Yildiz.
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A score of 1-0 flattered Juventus, and most observers acknowledged that Okoye was the reason.
Speaking after the game, the 26-year-old was disappointed the result could not have been better.
“Today we had the opportunity to get at least a point, but Juventus is a very strong team,” he said.
It is the first time Okoye has made the Team of the Week selection this season, and per Daily Post, it crowns what has been an upturn in form since a difficult start to the campaign.
For Eric Chelle, who reportedly handed the number one shirt to Francis Uzoho for the March window after deciding that Stanley Nwabali’s inactivity made him unselectable, Okoye’s current form adds a dimension he will need to address.
Nwabali remains without a club since leaving Chippa United last month. Okoye, on the other hand, is playing every week in Serie A, facing top-level opposition and earning his coach’s public praise.
The goalkeeping position behind the Super Eagles’ outfield players has rarely looked more competitive.
