Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has shared an unexpected detail from his early football journey stating that he began his career as a striker.
The 25-year-old made this revelation during a chat with Udinese fans ahead of the club’s final Serie A game of the season against Fiorentina at the Stadio Friuli.
Okoye, who has enjoyed a resurgence at the Italian club, was recently named in Nigeria’s 26-man squad for both the upcoming Unity Cup tournament and an international friendly against Russia.
Since arriving at Udinese from Watford, Okoye has reestablished himself as a reliable presence between the sticks.
He has kept ten clean sheets in 47 appearances across all competitions an impressive return that earned him a recall to the national team.
Recalling his switch to goalkeeping, Okoye told fans:
“I started out as a striker, then in the winter, our goalkeeper didn’t want to stay in goal anymore because he was cold. I offered to do it, and from then on, I never left the goal.”
The shot-stopper also explained the story behind his jersey number at Udinese.
“40 is the postal code of Dusseldorf, the city where I was born and raised,” he noted.
When asked about his standout moment at the club, Okoye pointed to a brilliant performance in the Coppa Italia:
“The double save in my first match against Cagliari, in the Coppa Italia.”
Despite speculation linking him with a move away from Udinese, Okoye insists he is focused on his current club.
“It is difficult to think about the future because I am only focused on Udinese, the club and the fans have entered my heart,” he added.
