Okoye, Okonkwo star in tough games

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. Photo: Super Eagles

Nigerian goalkeepers Arthur Okonkwo and Maduka Okoye both delivered impressive performances for their respective clubs over the weekend, with Okonkwo inspiring a debut win for Charlton Athletic and Okoye earning Udinese a point in Serie A, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Okonkwo produced a man-of-the-match display on his Charlton debut, making eight saves as the Championship side beat West Ham 2-1 in the EFL on Saturday. The 24-year-old joined Charlton on a season-long loan from Wrexham just 48 hours before the match, but showed no signs of unfamiliarity, marshalling his backline with composure to frustrate West Ham’s attackers throughout the encounter.

Okonkwo’s move follows his departure from Wrexham, who opted not to include him in their plans for the new campaign despite his contribution to the club’s playoff push last season, in which he made 39 appearances, recorded 114 saves and kept nine clean sheets.

Meanwhile, in Italy, Okoye made five crucial saves to help Udinese hold Cesc Fabregas’s Champions League-bound Como to a 1-1 draw in their Serie A opener, earning the first point of their campaign after a tenth-place finish last season.

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Udinese took the lead in the 29th minute through Hassane Kamara, who lifted the ball over goalkeeper Jean Butez after latching onto a weighted pass inside the box.

Como responded early in the second half when Anastasios Douvikas turned in a rebound from close range to level matters.

Okoye, who had earned praise from his manager for keeping a clean sheet in the Coppa Italia, could do nothing to prevent the equaliser but was otherwise at his best, making five saves to ensure Udinese avoided defeat in their opening home fixture of the season.

The performances of both goalkeepers will be a welcome boost for Nigeria, with Okonkwo continuing to build his profile in English football and Okoye reaffirming his importance to Udinese following his return to the club.

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