Udinese forward Nicolò Zaniolo has praised Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for his impressive performance in the club’s 0-0 draw against Parma in Serie A on Wednesday night.
Okoye produced a crucial penalty save to help Udinese secure a point at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, ending their six-match losing streak in the Italian top flight.
The Nigerian goalkeeper denied Parma midfielder Adrián Bernabé from the spot in the 69th minute, preventing the hosts from taking the lead and earning the Player of the Match award for his efforts.
Following the encounter, Zaniolo expressed his admiration for Okoye, highlighting the goalkeeper’s importance to the team after a difficult run of results.
The Italian forward, who returned to the starting lineup for the match, insisted that the Nigerian had rescued Udinese on previous occasions and deserved recognition for his contribution.
It’s not the first time Maduka has saved us. I love him; he’s a good person and a fantastic goalkeeper,” Zaniolo said, as quoted by Udinese’s official website.
He added that Okoye’s intervention had helped the team stop their losing run and collect a valuable away point.
Today, thanks to him, we broke our losing streak and got a point away from home that moves us up the table. Now we have to focus on Roma,” he added.
Meanwhile, Udinese will hope to use the result as a turning point after a difficult start to the campaign.
Zaniolo acknowledged that injuries and costly mistakes had contributed to the club’s struggles but remained optimistic about their prospects when the squad is fully available.
The forward also expressed his delight at returning to the starting lineup, adding that he still needed to regain his best form.
The performance provided a timely boost after a challenging run of league appearances. His penalty save and clean sheet against Parma offered Udinese a much-needed result as they prepare for their next Serie A fixture against Roma.
