Maduka Okoye Hits 10 Clean Sheets In Serie A As Udinese Beat Cagliari

Maduka Okoye etched his name into Nigerian football history on Saturday after keeping his 10th clean sheet of the season in Serie A, becoming the first Nigerian goalkeeper to reach the mark in a top-five European league since Vincent Enyeama 11 years ago.

Maduka Okoye achieved this milestone as Udinese secured a 2-0 win over Cagliari at the Unipol Domus.

Enyeama had set the standard with 17 clean sheets for Lille in the 2014 to 2015 Ligue 1 season. Okoye’s feat signals renewed optimism for the Super Eagles as the search for a dependable long-term number one continues.

The 26-year-old was decisive when it mattered most, making three saves from five shots on target. His standout moment arrived in the first half with a full-stretch fingertip stop that kept the game level and allowed Udinese to grow into the game.

Adam Buksa broke the deadlock in the 56th minute before Idrissa Gueye wrapped up the win in the 96th minute. The result delivered Udinese’s 14th league win of the campaign and lifted them to ninth in the table.

The clean sheet also matched Okoye’s personal best from his 2020-2021 season with Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie.

Since joining Udinese in 2022, Okoye has rebuilt his reputation and emerged as a key figure. His form has attracted interest from Inter Milan, AC Milan and Bournemouth ahead of the summer transfer window.