Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has praised Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye following his impressive return to action in the club’s 1-0 Coppa Italia victory over Padova at the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday. The result sent the Zebras through to the next round of the competition and marked a welcome comeback for the Super Eagles number one after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Keinan Davis settled the contest in the 35th minute, giving Udinese a lead they held onto for the remainder of the match. The victory was particularly significant for Okoye, however, as he was restored to the starting lineup after missing the entirety of Udinese’s pre-season programme due to a shoulder injury sustained during training in Lienz, Austria.
Despite the extended absence, Runjaic showed faith in the 26-year-old by handing him the gloves for the club’s opening competitive fixture of the season, and the goalkeeper repaid that trust with a composed display, making the saves required to preserve the clean sheet.
Speaking after the match, Runjaic expressed satisfaction with what he saw from his returning shot-stopper, noting that Okoye was playing his first game back from injury and still managed to keep a clean sheet.
However, the German coach was careful to temper the celebrations, stressing that the team’s overall record remains encouraging but that Udinese cannot afford to become complacent as they turn their attention to the new Serie A campaign. As a result, the emphasis within the camp has quickly shifted toward building on the positive start rather than dwelling on Saturday’s result.
The injury had initially threatened to disrupt what has otherwise been a steady rise for Okoye at Udinese. He established himself as an important figure for the club last season, making 30 Serie A appearances, registering one assist and keeping 10 clean sheets, form that also strengthened his standing within the Super Eagles setup.
Consequently, his recovery in time for the Coppa Italia opener represents a timely boost, both for Udinese as they look to build early momentum and for Nigeria ahead of upcoming international commitments.
Furthermore, Runjaic’s willingness to trust Okoye immediately upon his return reflects the goalkeeper’s growing standing within the squad, having overcome a difficult and largely inactive spell at Watford earlier in his career to become a regular starter in Udine. Meanwhile, with his fitness concerns now seemingly behind him, attention turns to whether he can maintain his place as first-choice goalkeeper heading into Udinese’s Serie A opener against Como.
Okoye’s successful return from injury offers reassurance regarding the fitness of one of the team’s senior goalkeeping options heading into the new international season. His consistency at club level in recent seasons has made him a central figure in Nigeria’s goalkeeping conversation, and a swift return to top form at Udinese would further strengthen his case whenever Eric Chelle finalises his squad plans for upcoming fixtures.
Udinese will now shift their focus to the Serie A season opener against Como, with Runjaic expected to make further assessments on his squad in the coming days. The priority for Okoye will be building on his encouraging Coppa Italia return to reclaim his place as Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper heading into the new campaign.
