Okoye shares how he saved a penalty in match against Parma

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye said his penalty save against Parma was just "pure instinct." He helped Udinese end their six-match losing streak with a 0-0 draw in Serie A on Wednesday.

Okoye stopped Adrián Bernabé's penalty in the 69th minute at Stadio Ennio Tardini. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award and secured a point for his team.

After the match, Okoye mentioned that Udinese wanted to win but were happy with the draw as they prepared for their next game.
"We always want to win, and we need points. Today we got one, and that’s fine. Now we’re immediately focusing on the next one," he said, according to the club’s official website.

Reflecting on the Match

Okoye, 26, said his save came from instinct. He noted the team’s recent struggles and the absence of important players. "The penalty save was pure instinct. We’ve been unlucky in these games, and we’ve also been missing players like Zaniolo, whose importance we saw today," he added.

Zaniolo, who Okoye said Udinese missed, praised the goalkeeper for his performance. He called Okoye a fantastic shot-stopper and credited him for helping the team secure an important away point.
"It’s not the first time Maduka has saved us. I love him; he’s a good person and a fantastic goalkeeper. Today, thanks to him, we broke our losing streak and got a point away from home that moves us up the table. Now we have to focus on Roma," Zaniolo told Udinese’s official website.

First Clean Sheet of the Season

This clean sheet was Okoye’s first in Serie A this season. Before this match, he had let in 18 goals in nine league games and had gone eight matches without a clean sheet.

Now, Udinese will prepare for their next league match against Roma as they aim to build on this draw.