Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic has expressed his frustration following another disappointing defensive performance by his team, after Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye conceded three goals in a 3-0 Serie A defeat to Lecce.

According to a report by OwnGoalNigeria on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the defeat at the Stadio Friuli means Okoye has conceded 16 goals in seven league appearances during the 2026-2027 season, increasing scrutiny of Udinese’s defensive struggles.

Lecce secured all three points through goals from Kialonda Gaspar, Konan N’Dri and Jamil Siebert, leaving Udinese with just four points from their opening seven league matches.

The result further deepened the club’s difficult start to the campaign, with previous defeats against Torino, Cagliari, Inter Milan and Lazio adding to the pressure on Runjaic.

Okoye has come under scrutiny because of the number of goals Udinese have conceded. The Nigerian international is yet to record a clean sheet this season and has conceded at least three goals in three of his seven league appearances.

However, Runjaic has defended the goalkeeper, arguing that the defeat against Lecce resulted from a poor collective performance rather than the actions of one individual.

“It was the worst performance since I’ve been here. The entire team, except for Davis and Alaba in the first half, didn’t show their game. Maybe we can even take Okoye off the scoresheet,” the Udinese manager said.

The coach’s comments suggest that he believes the team’s overall display was primarily responsible for the disappointing result, despite the pressure surrounding Okoye’s recent statistics.

Runjaic also acknowledged the seriousness of Udinese’s situation while insisting that he remains confident in his ability to turn things around.

“We win and lose together, I know what the situation is, I wasn’t expecting this, and we need to ask ourselves why. I obviously feel capable of lifting this team up again,” he added.

The manager also apologised to the club’s supporters and called for unity as Udinese attempt to recover from their poor run of results.

“I’m very sorry for our fans, but that’s football: opponents celebrate. The last home win is in May, we all need to stay united, but also speak directly and clearly,” Runjaic said.

With Udinese struggling to find consistency, the coming fixtures will be important for both the team and its goalkeeper. Okoye will be hoping to improve his performances and secure his first clean sheet of the campaign, while Runjaic faces the task of addressing the defensive problems that have contributed to the club’s disappointing start.

For now, the coach’s public backing offers some reassurance for the Nigerian goalkeeper, but Udinese will need a significant improvement at both ends of the pitch to move away from their current difficulties.