Okoye Reflects on First Serie A Penalty Save After Heavy Defeat

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye pulled off his first-ever Serie A penalty save on Saturday but left the pitch frustrated as his side fell 3-0 to Bologna. The visitors were awarded a first-half penalty after VAR ruled that Kingsley Ehizibue handled Tommaso Pobega’s shot. With the score goalless, Okoye denied Riccardo Orsolini from the spot, a moment he described as important but not enough to change the outcome.

"I'm happy with the penalty saved, but not with the match…," he told the club’s website, admitting he later made “a mistake on the second goal.” He urged the team to tighten up at the back, saying, “Are we the worst defense? We often take risks… We need to improve defensively, myself first.”

Okoye, who returned from a betting ban in October, hopes to maintain his form as he pushes for a Super Eagles starting role ahead of AFCON.