Udinese coach comments on Super Eagles goalkeeper Okoye after Serie A award nomination

Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic praised Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after the Nigerian was nominated for the Serie A Player of the Month award, according to Afrik‑Foot.

Okoye’s season in Italy has become one of the most remarkable comeback stories for a Nigerian player in Europe. After limited playing time during a challenging spell at Watford FC, the 25‑year‑old has rebuilt his reputation in Serie A with a series of commanding performances for Udinese.

Before the club’s match against US Cremonese, Runjaic highlighted Okoye’s development, mentality and role in the team’s defensive structure, noting that the goalkeeper has recorded 10 league clean sheets this season.

“Okoye’s evolution is clear for all to see. He’s crucial for our defence,” Runjaic said on Udinese’s official website. “He has interpreted key moments well and kept us in the game several times.”

The former 1860 Munich coach also expressed satisfaction with how the Nigerian recovered after a difficult start to the campaign, following a suspension linked to a sports‑betting investigation.

“I’m very happy with the level he’s performing at. We know how his season started; it’s not easy to prepare without being able to play, but he’s worked hard on himself,” he added.

Runjaic explained that the club supported Okoye throughout that challenging period, with sporting director Gokhan Inler and Udinese’s goalkeeping coaches maintaining regular contact with the former Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper.

“Overall, we’re working hard with him; Inler talks to him often, the goalkeeping coaches work hard with him; he’s maturing,” he said.

“Every player needs a different period to mature and reach their level. Now he’s playing calmly, focused, and always mentally present, both in matches and in training.”

Okoye’s Serie A statistics reflect significant improvement for Udinese

Okoye’s performances this season explain why he has become one of the most valuable goalkeepers in Serie A. In 28 league appearances during the 2025‑26 campaign, he has kept 10 clean sheets, conceded 35 goals and maintained a 70.9 percent save rate.

That clean‑sheet tally is particularly noteworthy because it makes him the first Nigerian goalkeeper since Vincent Enyeama at Lille OSC 11 years ago to reach double figures for clean sheets in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

His distribution has also become a key weapon for Udinese, with the goalkeeper completing more than 530 passes this season while regularly launching counter‑attacks with accurate long balls.

Runjaic believes the Nigerian has now become the player the club always expected him to be.

“I’m seeing the Maduka I want to see, and I hope he puts in two great performances in his last two games as well,” the Udinese boss said.

“If his stats are good, the whole team’s are good too. I’m happy with the moment he’s going through; he’s a good guy, calm, introverted, and he’s also worked hard on his past.”

“We’re talking about young players; mistakes happen at this age. We continued to support him, and then he was able to get out of a tough situation on his own. It was a complicated situation, but he’s providing excellent performances. He’s doing very well and must continue like this.”

Okoye has been nominated for the Serie A Player of the Month for May, the only goalkeeper among a field that includes Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez and Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, among others.