Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has earned a nomination for the Serie A Player of the Month award for May 2026 after a string of commanding performances for Udinese, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 26-year-old has been one of the standout goalkeepers in Italy this season, keeping 10 clean sheets in 28 Serie A appearances.
That tally places him in rare company among Nigerian goalkeepers in Europe’s top leagues, with the last Nigerian to reach double figures in one of the continent’s top five divisions being former Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama in the 2014/15 season.
Okoye’s nomination is built on two clean sheets in Udinese’s matches this May, back-to-back 2-0 wins against Torino and Cagliari, and his overall consistency throughout the campaign has played a significant role in keeping the Friulani comfortably in mid-table, well clear of relegation danger.
His rise this season is all the more notable given the difficult circumstances in which it unfolded. Okoye missed six matches at the start of the campaign after receiving a two-month suspension linked to an alleged betting-related fraud investigation.
The case was subsequently dropped by an Italian court after the complainant, betting operator Snaitech, withdrew its complaint, with judge Paolo Lauteri accepting the withdrawal during a pre-trial hearing and clearing the Nigerian of wrongdoing.
Since returning from that suspension in October 2025, Okoye has been Udinese’s first-choice goalkeeper and has not looked back, combining sharp reflexes with strong command of his penalty area.
His form has also boosted his standing in the Super Eagles setup, where he competes with Stanley Nwabali for the number one shirt.
The Player of the Month winner will be announced later in May, with Okoye set to feature in Udinese’s final fixture against Cremonese on Sunday before the verdict is reached.
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