Maduka Okoye: Super Eagles GK eyes clean sheet record in AC Milan tie with Udinese

Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will go into Udinese’s next Serie A match with a clear personal target, Afrik-Foot reports.

The former Watford shot-stopper will aim to keep a third straight clean sheet for the first time in his career in Italy’s top flight.

The Udinese goalkeeper has been one of the club’s most reliable players in recent weeks, showing sharp reflexes and improved confidence between the posts. His current run began after he conceded in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Juventus, when Jérémie Boga scored the winning goal in March.

Since then, Okoye has responded strongly. He has not conceded in his last two matches against Como (0-0) and Genoa (2-0 away win for Udinese).

With those shutouts in his kitty, Okoye has the chance to make it three in a row, a notable achievement, especially with AC Milan next on the schedule.

The last time he managed consecutive clean sheets in Serie A was back in February 2024, when he shut out Monza and Juventus in back-to-back games. However, Udinese as a team have not gone three league matches without conceding in over a year, adding more weight to the challenge ahead.

Okoye’s recent clean sheet against Como was particularly impressive. It came shortly after he withdrew from Nigeria’s friendly 2-2 draw with Jordan, due to a thigh injury picked up in training.

Maduka Okoye’s growing importance at Udinese

Beyond this immediate target, Okoye’s overall contribution to Udinese has steadily grown. Since joining the club, he has become a regular starter and a key figure in their fight to stay competitive in Serie A.

This season alone, the Nigerian has started 23 matches and kept seven clean sheets, conceding just over a goal per game. His performances over the last few weeks have been especially strong, only three goals conceded in five matches, alongside three clean sheets.

Across three seasons, Okoye has made 69 league appearances for Udinese, recording 16 clean sheets. While those numbers show room for improvement, they also reveal his consistency and durability as a first-choice goalkeeper.

Udinese’s situation in the league adds further importance to his form. With seven matches left, the club, sitting in 11th place, still need points to seal their top ten finish in Serie A this season. Strong defensive displays, led by Okoye, could be key to achieving that goal.