According to a report by Daily Post on Sunday October 18, 2026, Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaić has warned Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye that costly mistakes can have serious consequences following his error in the club’s defeat against Torino.

The Nigerian international came under scrutiny after his mistake contributed to Udinese conceding a goal at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, leaving his team with a disappointing result.

Speaking ahead of Udinese’s Serie A clash against Lecce on Sunday, Runjaić confirmed that he had spoken firmly to Okoye about the incident and made it clear that the goalkeeper understood his responsibility.

“A coach must use clear words with his players and I did on this occasion too,” Runjaić said, according to Udinese’s official website.

The German coach added that Okoye was fully aware of the consequences of his decision during the match against Torino.

“He is well aware that his decision led to us conceding a goal. You make many decisions throughout a match, and that was a bad one,” he stated.

Despite criticising the goalkeeper’s mistake, Runjaić maintained that Okoye has the potential to become one of the best shot-stoppers in Italian football if he consistently performs at his highest level.

“If he gives it everything he’s got, Okoye is one of the five top goalkeepers in Serie A. We work a lot with him,” the Udinese manager added.

Runjaić also stressed the importance of maintaining concentration and avoiding unnecessary errors, particularly when matches are decided by small details.

“In the past two games we dominated and Maduka did not have to do much. We need to find the right balance between calm and tension. Every mistake can have major consequences, so we mustn’t make any,” he concluded.

The warning comes as Okoye prepares for Udinese’s encounter against Lecce, where he will be hoping to put the Torino setback behind him and deliver a solid performance.

The 26-year-old remains an important figure for Udinese and the Nigerian national team, but his manager’s comments underline the need for greater consistency and sound decision-making as the Serie A campaign continues.