Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has named Argentine playmaker Paulo Dybala as the most difficult opponent he has faced since moving to Italy’s top flight. The Udinese shot-stopper highlighted Dybala’s instant impact off the bench in a particular game as a moment that has stayed with him.
Speaking in a recent interview, Okoye shared his admiration for Dybala's ability to influence games. "Honestly, the first player I think about is Dybala because I remember when he came in, he didn’t start the game. He came in and it was incredible how he changed the game. It was so massive that anytime someone asks me this question, he’s the first name I mention."
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Despite placing Dybala at the top of his list, Okoye also acknowledged the difficulty of facing his Nigerian compatriot and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. "My brother Osimhen is not easy to face," he admitted, while also commending the overall quality of attackers in Serie A.
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Okoye has gradually cemented his place as Udinese’s first-choice keeper this season, earning plaudits for his consistent performances and development in goal.
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Editorial
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Maduka Okoye’s comments on facing Paulo Dybala offer more than just a compliment they reflect a maturing goalkeeper who is learning from the best in the business. Dybala’s creativity and unpredictability have long tormented defences, and Okoye’s firsthand account only reinforces the Argentine’s enduring quality.
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But perhaps more telling is Okoye’s calm assessment of the challenges he faces in Serie A. It shows he’s not just surviving in one of Europe’s toughest leagues he’s absorbing lessons, improving, and embracing competition at the highest level. This kind of mindset is exactly what the Super Eagles need as they build a of facing global football’s elite.
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Equally encouraging is his acknowledgement of Victor Osimhen’s threat. In Osimhen, Nigeria boasts one of the most feared strikers in world football—and having a compatriot like Okoye regularly competing against him in training camps and potentially on the pitch fosters a culture of excellence.
Okoye has had his ups and downs since breaking into the senior national team, but this season has shown growth and maturity. If he continues this trajectory, the debate about who should be Nigeria’s undisputed No. 1 might be settled sooner rather than later.
Did You Know?
Paulo Dybala has won league titles in both Argentina and Italy and was Serie A MVP in the 2019/20 season.
Maduka Okoye was born in Germany and began his professional career at Fortuna Düsseldorf before moving to Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Dybala once held the record for the fastest goal in a Juventus shirt in UEFA Champions League history, scoring in under 3 minutes.
Okoye is fluent in German, Dutch, and English, and is one of the few Nigerian internationals to have captained a European club at youth level.
Udinese is the second-oldest football club in Italy still in existence, founded in 1896.