By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria international Kelechi Nwakali has expressed his joy at ending his long goal drought after scoring for the first time since April 27, helping Barnsley secure a 2-1 victory over Exeter City.
Nwakali’s decisive goal came at a crucial moment in the 48th minute, as he struck a stunning long-range shot to level the score at 1-1. This match also marked Nwakali’s first full debut for Barnsley after making a few impactful cameo appearances in earlier matches.
The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner took full advantage of the opportunity, delivering a commanding performance in midfield.
Nwakali completed 93% of his passes (56 out of 60), registered 72 touches, and demonstrated his vision and range by completing six of his seven long-ball attempts. He also delivered an accurate cross during the match.
Defensively, Nwakali was solid, winning four out of six ground duels and both aerial duels, while making one clearance and one interception with just one foul committed.
Following the match, Nwakali took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to express his gratitude: “Thanks to God. First goal, three points. Come on you Reds,” he wrote.
For Nwakali, the goal holds significant personal importance, as it marks his first since April 27, when he netted for Casa Pia in a 3-1 defeat to Chaves in Portugal.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
