Serie A: Okoye Concedes As Napoli Pip Udinese

The Nigerian international, who was making his 30th appearance, has kept 10 clean sheets and conceded 32 goals this season for Udinese.

Napoli nearly opened the scoring just 65 seconds in when Alisson Santos cut inside and forced Okoye into a smart stop low to his left, but the Brazilian saw his day cut short after appearing to injure his hamstring while chasing a ball over the top.

It was Okoye’s replacement, Kevin De Bruyne, who helped create the opening goal in the 24th minute, delivering an incisive pass that was collected by Hojlund, who took a couple of touches before firing into the bottom‑left corner.

With the win, Napoli raised their tally to 76 points, finishing the season in second place in the Italian league standings and securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

In contrast, Udinese’s total remained at 50 points, placing them in tenth position in the standings.

Okoye had a stellar 2025/2026 season for Udinese, being named the club’s Player of the Season after a remarkable comeback.

Despite an early‑season suspension, he cemented his place as the undisputed first‑choice goalkeeper, keeping 10 clean sheets in 30 Serie A appearances.

His resilience and consistent performances were praised by Head Coach Kosta Runjaic, making him a central figure in Udinese’s success.

Runjaic further disclosed that the club invested heavily in helping the Nigerian international rediscover stability and confidence during the challenging period.

According to the Udinese boss, sporting director Gökhan İnler maintained regular conversations with Okoye, while the club’s goal‑keeping department also continued intensive work behind the scenes.

“Overall, we’re working hard with him; İnler talks to him often, the goal‑keeping coaches work hard with him; he’s maturing,” he explained.

“Every player needs a different period to mature and reach their level. Now he’s playing calmly, focused, and always mentally present, both in matches and in training.”