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Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic has confirmed that Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is available for the club’s Coppa Italia season opener against Padova. Runjaic provided the update during his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Udinese’s first competitive fixture of the new season against Padova. The German coach was asked about the availability of some of his players and confirmed that Okoye and new signing Unai Gomez are both fit and available for selection. Giving his assessment of the squad ahead of the Coppa Italia encounter, Runjaic said: “Okoye and Unai Gomez are available.” Okoye had been sidelined after suffering a shoulder injury during Udinese’s pre-season preparations, with the setback initially expected to keep him out at the start of the new campaign. However, the Nigerian goalkeeper has returned to full team training and has now been cleared for selection. Okoye’s availability is also a boost for the Super Eagles of Nigeria ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Nigeria have been drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau, with the qualifying group-stage fixtures scheduled to begin during the September/October international window. Wale Adejumo