Maduka Okoye: Padelli’s defence and the keeper he says decided Venezia

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been publicly defended by Udinese teammate Daniele Padelli, who says the Nigerian is being made a scapegoat for a run that has left the Friulians searching for answers.

Okoye has conceded 25 goals and kept one clean sheet in 11 Serie A appearances this season figures that have brought heavy criticism his way.

The criticism has landed during an international break he is spending away from the Super Eagles: Okoye is not in Eric Chelle's squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifying double-header against Tanzania.

Padelli: ‘It happened to me too'

Padelli, the veteran Italian goalkeeper, spoke on the TV12 programme, in comments carried on Udinese's official website and translated by Soccernet.

In these situations you look for a scapegoat. It has happened to everyone, it happened to me too.

He then pointed to the 6 November defeat at Venezia, the game that sharpened the focus on Okoye.

Against Venezia, in any case, the most decisive goalkeeper for the result was Stankovic.

That was a reference to Venezia goalkeeper Filip Stankovic, who, in Padelli's view, did more to settle the game than anyone at the other end.

Padelli also looked at the defence in front of Okoye. Udinese are playing with two young centre-backs who have 20 Serie A appearances between them, he said, adding that they are strong but cannot be expected to lead the back line. One result, he argued, could be enough to give the side the spark it needs.

Analysis: The numbers point at the whole side

Twenty-five goals in 11 games is a heavy return for any goalkeeper, and Okoye will know a Super Eagles recall depends on bringing it down. But the context Padelli gives matters: a defence led by inexperienced centre-backs, a change of coach from Kosta Runjaic to Paolo Zanetti, and a run that Padelli says is unlike anything he has experienced.

A defence that young usually concedes chances, not just goals, and a goalkeeper behind it faces more shots than he should. That does not clear Okoye of every error, but it explains why a dressing-room voice as experienced as Padelli's has chosen to stand in front of him.

It also keeps Okoye in the conversation for Chelle. The Nigeria No. 1 debate has moved on since Stanley Nwabali's clean sheet sharpened it last week, but Okoye's recent penalty save at Parma showed the level he can still reach.

Okoye's chance to answer the criticism comes when Serie A resumes after the international break, with Zanetti now picking the side.