Soccer
Maduka Okoye in action for Udinese. Copyright: Imago
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has gotten a massive boost regarding Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup and the June friendlies, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old has started 28 of Udinese’s 36 league games, keeping ten clean sheets and helping his club side to a finish in the top half of the Serie A table.
With two games left until the end of the season, Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic, in his pre-match conference ahead of the game against Cremonese, admitted he’s been pleased with the maturity the Super Eagles goalkeeper has shown this season.
“Okoye’s evolution is in everyone’s eyes. It is important for our defensive phase, he interpreted the decisive moments well and he kept us several times in the game,” the Udinese coach said in quotes revealed by the club’s official website.
“I’m very happy with the levels with which he’s expressing himself. His season we know how it started, it’s not easy to do the preparation without being able to play, but he’s worked a lot on himself.
“In general we are working a lot with him, Inler [Gökhan] often talks to him, the goalkeepers’ trainers work a lot together with him, he is maturing.
“Every player needs a different period to mature and reach his level, now he is playing quiet, focused, he is always present mentally, both in the game and in training.
“I’m seeing the Maduka I want to see and I hope he puts up two great performances in the last two games as well. If his stats are good, the whole team prospers.
“I’m happy about his lifestyle, he’s a good guy, quiet, introverted, he’s worked a lot on his past as well.
“There is talk of young people who happen to make mistakes at this age, we continued to support him and then alone he knew how to get out of a complicated situation, providing excellent performance.
“He’s doing very well and he has to keep it that way,” the German tactician concluded.
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Soccer Maduka Okoye: Runjaic’s comments a boost for Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles
With the Super Eagles set to participate in the Unity Cup later this month, Runjaic’s comments about the German-born Nigerian goalkeeper make a strong case for him to make the number one position his own.
Stanley Nwabali has been without a club since February and was left out of Nigeria’s team during the March international break. Okoye was handed the starting spot against Iran, his first appearance since June 2025.
However, an injury forced him out of the second game against Jordan. Francis Uzoho and Adebayo Adeleye featured in his place.
With the Unity Cup set to kick off on the 26th of May, Eric Chelle’s squad announcement is imminent, and barring any injuries, the former Watford goalkeeper should be included.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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