Nigeria Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has described Serie A as one of the finest leagues on the planet, saying he takes pride in testing himself at the highest level of Italian football.

Okoye, who kept 10 clean sheets across 30 league appearances for Udinese last season, spoke about his ambitions and his admiration for Spain's Unai Simón in an interview with The Guardian.

Building on a strong season

The shot-stopper is determined to push Udinese toward better league finishes in the coming campaign while continuing to serve Nigeria on the international stage.

"Everything is possible," Okoye told The Guardian. "But I think we should talk about that again in February or March. First we have to get the basics right and take it game by game. Then we'll see where we are."

"We certainly have the quality, the players, an excellent staff, and a solid club behind us. Udinese is a club where a player can really grow and make that leap in quality," he added.

"For me, Serie A remains one of the best leagues in the world and I'm grateful to be part of it. The higher the level of the league, the happier and prouder I am to play in it. We're working hard and can't wait to compete against the best."

Why Unai Simón stood out at the FIFA World Cup 2026

Okoye also turned his attention to the FIFA World Cup 2026, singling out Spain's Unai Simón as a goalkeeper who exemplified the intelligence and subtlety that define elite-level goalkeeping.

For Okoye, it was not spectacular reflex saves that made Simón stand out — it was his ability to stay engaged in the game and manage difficult situations, particularly when defending deep balls against France in the tournament's closing stages.

"I found Spain's Unai Simón very impressive, especially towards the final stages. Not so much for making hundreds of saves, but for the way he remained inside the game, defending deep balls against France. For me, that was goalkeeping of the highest level."

Okoye's admiration for Simón's approach reflects his own philosophy between the posts — one built on composure, positioning, and reading the game rather than on headline-grabbing moments.