Okoye Sees First Career Red in Serie A
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye endured a nightmare evening in Florence as he was sent off for the first time in his topflight career during Udinese’s clash with Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
The dismissal came just seven minutes into the contest when Okoye rushed off his line to deal with a loose ball but mistimed his challenge, colliding heavily with Moise Kean on the edge of the box.
The referee had little hesitation in showing red for serious foul play, ruling that the Nigerian had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
It was a landmark moment for Okoye, who had gone 58 Serie A appearances without a red card before this incident.
His early exit left Udinese with 10 men and shifted the balance of the game firmly in Fiorentina’s favour.
The hosts capitalised on their numerical advantage, piling on the pressure and eventually cruising to a dominant home victory in front of their supporters.
