Udinese’s manager, Gabriele Cioffi, has officially announced that Maduka Okoye will be making his debut in the Serie A match against Bologna on Saturday. This highly anticipated game will take place at the Bluenergy Stadium, marking the Nigerian goalkeeper’s first appearance in the Italian top-flight league since his transfer from Watford.

Although Okoye has only participated in one Coppa Italia game for Udinese thus far, Cioffi has expressed his confidence in the young goalkeeper by stating, “I am delighted to have Marco Silvestri here. He is a top goalkeeper who has been a backbone for the team. His two stand-ins are also excellent. That is why I have decided to give Maduka Okoye a chance. It is a technical decision, and I am not throwing anyone under the bus. The position of goalkeeper is the same as any other.”

This decision comes at an opportune time, as Okoye was not chosen for Nigeria’s squad in the 2023 Africa Cup, a fact announced by the Nigeria Football Federation just a day prior to the Serie A debut confirmation.

Stay tuned for what promises to be a defining moment in Okoye’s career as he takes on the challenge of guarding Udinese’s goalpost against Bologna.