Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has publicly apologised following a straight red card that contributed to Udinese’s heavy 5–1 Serie A defeat against Fiorentina on Sunday.
The Nigerian international was sent off within the opening minutes for a reckless challenge on Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. Referee Maurizio Mariani deemed the foul to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, issuing a straight red without the need for VAR.
“The challenge was a mistake, and I take full responsibility,” Okoye later posted on Snapchat, addressing Udinese supporters, teammates, and club officials. “I’m sorry, Bianconeri.”
Udinese were forced to play almost the entire match with ten men, prompting an early tactical reshuffle by head coach Gabriele Cioffi. Fiorentina capitalised immediately, with Rolando Mandragora opening the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Albert Guðmundsson before half-time. Cher Ndour’s stoppage-time strike in the first half effectively sealed the contest.
The pressure continued after the interval. Kean, the player fouled by Okoye, scored in the 56th minute to make it 4–0. Udinese’s Oumar Solet pulled one back in the 66th minute, but Kean struck again three minutes later, completing Fiorentina’s 5–1 victory — their first league win of the season after 16 rounds.
The red card is expected to sideline Okoye for up to three matches, including Udinese’s final fixture of the year against Lazio on December 27. Analysts note the timing is particularly sensitive, coming after Okoye had opted out of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations squad in Morocco, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with his second-choice status behind Stanley Nwabali.
Despite the setback, football pundits have urged fans to separate a single error from Okoye’s overall performance. “Every goalkeeper faces critical moments; how one responds off the pitch matters as much as on it,” noted a Serie A analyst.
