Maduka Okoye: ‘We need points’ after his penalty save at Parma

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye saved an Adrian Bernabé penalty in Udinese's draw at Parma, and the point ended a run of six straight Serie A defeats.

Okoye was named Man of the Match, according to Complete Sports. The penalty came after he fumbled a corner and the ball struck James Abankwah's arm.

Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, created the better chances and had several opportunities to win, so the draw felt like a missed chance as much as a rescue.

What Okoye said

He told Udinese's official website that the team want to win every game.

“We always want to win and we need points.”

Okoye added that they got one point and were already focused on the next match. He described the save as instinct, said the team had been unlucky, and said Zaniolo's absence had been felt.

Analysis: A save worth more than one point

With Udinese in a fight to avoid relegation, a penalty save that ends a six-game losing run does more than add a point. It gives a struggling side something to build on.

For Nigeria, it is a timely reminder of his shot-stopping, and Soccernet has an earlier report on the Inter link and the Super Eagles clean-sheet run.

Udinese's next test is whether Okoye's save becomes the start of a recovery rather than a one-off.