The Udinese manager says the Super Eagles goalkeeper’s collision with his defender cost his side a point at Torino, and warns his team has been switching off too often.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic has pinned his side’s 2-1 defeat at Torino on a communication breakdown between Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and defender Nicolò Bertola. The decisive moment came at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Monday night, in Serie A’s sixth round.
As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, Torino substitute Sandro Kulenović scored the winner in the 67th minute. A cross from Vlasic arrived on the right, and Okoye rushed out to claim it. He collided with Bertola, the ball ran loose to Kulenović, and the substitute tapped it into an empty net.
Daniel Bragança had put Torino ahead in the 36th minute, following up after Che Adams hit the post. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp levelled seven minutes later to make it 1-1 at the break.
Runjaic Points To A Pattern
Speaking to Tutto Udinese after the match, Runjaic admitted that without the error between Okoye and Bertola, a draw was the likely result. He named both players, which suggests he sees a shared problem rather than a single mistake.
He also stressed that it wasn’t a one-off. Over the last two matches, he said, Udinese have suffered “blackouts” rooted in poor awareness of danger, a lack of aggression and weak communication.
Fans tracking Nigerian players in Italy can also claim the YOHAIG code before the next round of fixtures.
A Tough Night For Okoye
It was a frustrating evening for the Super Eagles goalkeeper, who had earlier made a good save from Torino’s Ilkhan in the second half. Udinese held most of the ball, yet one lapse was enough to settle it.
That’s the cruel arithmetic of goalkeeping. A night of sound work gets erased by one collision, and the headlines follow the error rather than the saves.
Is one collision enough to judge a goalkeeper? Not on its own. Keepers and centre-backs share a split-second decision on every cross, and the blame often belongs to both.
Super Eagles fans who follow Okoye’s club form can check the latest Bet9ja promo code ahead of the next Serie A weekend.
What Next For Udinese
Udinese now need a quick reset. Runjaic wants the switched-off moments fixed fast, and the back line’s communication is the obvious place to start.
Goalkeepers in Italy are judged hard on moments like this one. Nigerian fans will be watching closely to see how Okoye answers in the next match.
Anyone curious about the bonus process can read how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the weekend.
For Udinese and their Nigerian goalkeeper, the lesson is simple. Talk early, talk loud, and don’t hand a striker an open goal.
📌 Did You Know?
- Torino had lost both of their previous meetings with Udinese this year. The Friulians won 2-1 in Turin in January 2026 and 2-0 in Udine in May.
- Udinese had 62% of the possession and 15 shots, but only one was on target. Torino put four on target, and Okoye saved two of them.
- David Alaba made his Udinese debut as a substitute, around 20 minutes from time.
- Runjaic has been Udinese head coach since July 1, 2024, when he took over from Fabio Cannavaro.
- Before this game, the two clubs had met 28 times, with Torino winning 14 and Udinese eight.
- Bragança’s opener was his first Serie A goal for Torino.
- Bertola was booked in the 89th minute, the only yellow card of the night.
