Maduka Okoye has sent a clear message about his ambitions with Nigeria after earning a place in the Serie A Team of the Week, Footynaija reports.
The Udinese Calcio goalkeeper has expressed his desire to become a regular again with the Super Eagles.
The 26-year-old, who has 19 international caps since making his debut against Brazil national football team in 2019, recently returned to the national squad during the March international break. His recall came after he missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but he made an immediate impression behind the scenes.
Unbelievable save from Nigeria’s best goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye he kept a clean sheet against AC Milan 🇳🇬👀 pic.twitter.com/BXVS65A6Yl
— Kara (@UTDKara) April 12, 2026
He was part of the squad that secured a 2-1 friendly win over Iran in Antalya, although injury ruled him out of the following 2-2 draw against Jordan. Despite that setback, Okoye has made it clear he is determined to play a bigger role going forward.
“I was so pleased to be called up to the national team,” he said on Udinese Tonight, via the club’s official website. “It’s important to me as a player and as a person. I want to return many more times.”
His comments come at a time when Stanley Nwabali has been the first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria, setting up what could become a strong competition for the number-one shirt. While Nwabali has impressed, Okoye’s growing confidence and form in Italy suggest he is ready to challenge seriously.
That belief is backed by his recent performances in Serie A, where he has been one of Udinese’s standout players this season. His display in a 3-0 away win over AC Milan at San Siro underlined his quality.
Facing a Milan side that dominated possession and produced 20 attempts on goal, Okoye remained calm and reliable. Only three shots were on target, and he dealt with all of them confidently, including one sharp save that drew widespread praise.
The MW32 Best XI is in! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rezSQnILOr
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 14, 2026
The performance earned him a place in the Serie A Team of the Week for matchday 32, as he continues to grow his reputation in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.
With eight clean sheets in 24 league appearances this season, Okoye is building strong momentum. If he maintains this level, Nigeria’s goalkeeping position could soon become one of the most competitive areas in the squad.
