Okoye ready for Udinese Coppa opener

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is fit and ready for Udinese’s Coppa Italia opener against Padova. The club’s coach, Kosta Runjaic, confirmed this news.

Runjaic shared the update during his pre-match press conference on Friday. This match will be Udinese’s first competitive game of the new season.

When asked about his players' fitness, the German coach said that Okoye and new signing Unai Gomez are both ready to play.

"Okoye and Unai Gomez are available," Runjaic stated.

Okoye had been out due to a shoulder injury he got during Udinese’s pre-season training in Lienz, Austria. This training took place from July 22 to early August, and he was expected to miss the start of the season.

Now, he has returned to full training and has been cleared to play.

The 26-year-old was one of five goalkeepers in Udinese’s Austria training camp. He made his first appearance for Nigeria in almost a year during the Super Eagles’ 2-1 friendly win over Iran in March, where he played the entire match.

His return is also good news for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. Chelle has to choose between Okoye and Stanley Nwabali for the goalkeeping spot ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Super Eagles are in Group L with Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau. The qualifiers will start in the September/October international window.