Soccer
Udinese climbed back into the top half of the Serie A table after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Torino in their Matchday 35 clash on Saturday afternoon, Soccernet.ng reports.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and 2020 invitee Kingsley Ehizibue both delivered standout performances as the White and Blacks returned to winning ways after a two-game winless streak.
Ehizibue gave Udinese the lead in first-half stoppage time, while Lennon Miller added a second after the break to secure their 13th league win of the season.
Soccer Udinese vs Torino: What happened?
Udinese came into the game without a win in their previous two matches, which had pushed them out of the top half. Torino, on the other hand, arrived in good form and were unbeaten in their last four outings.
The visitors started brightly and had the first real chance of the encounter, but Okoye was alert and produced a brilliant save to deny Giovanni Simeone to keep his side in the game.
Udinese thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute through Nicolo Zaniolo, who reacted quickest to a rebound off the crossbar, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.
Just before halftime, the breakthrough finally came when Ehizibue found the net for the second consecutive match to put the hosts ahead.
In the second half, Miller rose highest to head home a corner delivered by Thomas Kristensen, doubling Udinese’s advantage. Despite a late push from Torino, the hosts held firm to secure all three points.
The win lifted Udinese back into 10th place as they continue their push for a top-half finish for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
Soccer Super Eagles player ratings: Ehizibue on target, Okoye solid in goal
Both Kingsley Ehizibue and Maduka Okoye played important roles in Udinese’s dominant display against Torino.
Ehizibue, who received his first Super Eagles call-up in 2020 under Gernot Rohr, impressed with a strong all-round performance and capped it with his second goal of the season. The versatile defender made his 30th Serie A appearance of the campaign and completed 87% of his passes, while he also won three duels, which earned him a solid 8.1 rating on Sofascore.
Meanwhile, Okoye also had a reliable outing in goal and recorded his ninth clean sheet of the season. He made an important early save to keep the score level and finished with seven recoveries, earning a 7.2 rating on Sofascore.
Udinese face Cagliari next weekend as they look to build momentum and strengthen their chances of finishing in the top half.
Soccer Unity Cup watch: Ehizibue, Okoye boost call-up chances
Nigeria will defend their Unity Cup title when the 2026 edition takes place in London later this month and head coach Eric Chelle has already hinted at giving opportunities to new faces.
Okoye, who has been involved with the national tram recently is expected to be included again, especially with first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali currently without a club, which could affect his selection. The tournament could also give Okoye a real chance to stake a claim for the number one spot once again.
As for Ehizibue, he was previously invited to the Super Eagles in 2020 ahead of an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone but did not make an appearance. However, his recent impressive performances for Udinese could earn him another opportunity, with Chelle keen to experiment during the Unity Cup.
For now, both players will remain focused on finishing the club season strongly with Udinese, which could boost their chances of securing a place in the Super Eagles squad.
Read MoreAyomide Oguntimehin