Okoye Ends Season In Style As Napoli Edge Udinese In Serie A Finale
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was in action for Udinese Calcio as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Napoli in their final Serie A game of the season, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Nigerian shot-stopper featured in his 30th league appearance of the campaign, ending the season with 10 clean sheets and 32 goals conceded for Udinese.
Napoli nearly took the lead after just 65 seconds when Alisson Santos cut inside and forced Okoye into an impressive low save. However, the Brazilian attacker later suffered an injury and was replaced by Kevin De Bruyne.
The decisive moment arrived in the 24th minute when De Bruyne delivered a precise pass to Hojlund, who calmly finished into the bottom corner to hand Napoli the lead.
The victory saw Napoli finish second in the Serie A standings with 76 points, securing qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Udinese, meanwhile, ended the campaign in 10th position with 50 points.
Despite the defeat, Okoye enjoyed an impressive 2025/2026 season and was recently named Udinese’s Player of the Season following a remarkable comeback campaign.
The 26-year-old overcame an early-season suspension to re-establish himself as the club’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, producing several outstanding displays throughout the season.
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic praised the Nigerian’s development and mental strength after the match.
“Overall, we’re working hard with him; ?nler talks to him often, the goalkeeping coaches work hard with him; he’s maturing,” Runjaic 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.”
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