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Maduka Okoye was the unlikely headline-maker on a weekend dominated by big names in Serie A, producing a breathtaking save to inspire Udinese to a narrow but memorable 1-0 win over Roma, footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian goalkeeper was at the heart of everything as the hosts held firm at the Bluenergy Stadium, frustrating Roma’s attackers with a series of sharp interventions.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s well-taken second-half goal ultimately decided the contest, but it was Okoye’s reflexes that ensured the three points stayed in Udine.
Roma thought they had drawn level late on when a dangerous cross from Wesley França found Gianluca Mancini inside the six-yard box. The defender’s first-time effort seemed unstoppable. But Okoye flung himself low to his right, stretching out a strong hand to claw the ball away, drawing gasps from the crowd and immediate praise online.
Maduka Okoye down low! 🧤#UdineseRoma pic.twitter.com/3zEtWgAgFD
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 3, 2026
Serie A later shared the moment across its official platforms, hailing it as one of the standout saves of the round — a clip that quickly went viral among fans.
Beyond the spectacular stop, Okoye delivered a composed all-round display, finishing with three crucial saves and his fourth clean sheet of the campaign. Match ratings reflected his impact, placing him just behind match-winner Ekkelenkamp among Udinese’s top performers.
🚨🇳🇬 Man of the Match performance for Maduka Okoye tonight as Udinese seal a narrow win against Roma at home. pic.twitter.com/FQGX9MjE4o
— GNB OFFICIAL (@GHNaijaBallers) February 2, 2026
The performance added to Okoye’s growing influence since returning from a two-month suspension earlier in the season. Now with 15 league appearances to his name this term, he has played a key role in stabilising Udinese after a difficult start.
The victory lifted the club to ninth in the table on 32 points from 23 matches, with a trip to struggling Lecce up next.
