Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made a successful return to Udinese’s starting lineup on Monday, playing a crucial role in their 1-1 draw with Lazio after recovering from a three-month wrist injury layoff.
Okoye’s last appearance for Udinese was in a 2-0 loss to Genoa on December 1, and since then, he has watched from the sidelines as his team enjoyed a strong run, losing only three league games in their last 13 and rising to 10th in the Serie A table.
With Okoye now fit, head coach Kosta Runjaic handed him a starting spot against Lazio who had an impressive home record, having lost only two league games at the Stadio Olimpico this season. Nonetheless, Udinese made a strong start, taking the lead in the 22nd minute through Florian Thauvin’s brilliant finish.
However, Lazio equalized before halftime, with Alessio Romagnoli scoring for the second consecutive game to level the scoreline. The second half saw both teams push for a win, but neither could create significant scoring opportunities. Okoye impressed with four saves and showcased his prowess on the ball, completing 86% of his passes.
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The draw extended Udinese’s unbeaten run to six matches, taking them to 40 points in 28 games, while Lazio remained fifth with 51 points, one point behind Juventus who sit fourth.
Udinese will aim to continue their impressive form when they host Hellas Verona on March 15. Meanwhile, Lazio will shift their focus to the Europa League, seeking to secure a quarterfinal spot after their impressive first-leg win over Viktoria Plzen.
Maduka Okoye’s timely return to action will boost his hopes of securing a spot in the Super Eagles final squad which will be released this week ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
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