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Kelechi Nwakali ends seven-month goal drought with stunning strike

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Kelechi Nwakali ends seven-month goal drought with stunning strike

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Kelechi Nwakali ended a seven-month goal drought as Barnsley secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Exeter City on Saturday.

The midfielder, who last found the back of the net for Casa Pia in their 3-1 loss to Chaves in Portugal on April 27, 2024, finally broke his scoring silence with a stunning goal for his new club.

Nwakali’s strike came just after the break, as Barnsley leveled the score following Exeter City’s early 13th-minute lead from a deflected free-kick.

The 25-year-old picked up the ball outside the box and unleashed a powerful shot into the bottom left corner, sending Barnsley fans into raptures. Eight minutes later, Davis Keillor-Dunn scored the winner, completing the comeback for Barnsley.

This goal not only ended Nwakali’s long drought but also marked his first league start for Barnsley.

Having joined the club on a three-year deal this summer from Portuguese side Casa Pia, Nwakali was handed the opportunity to start by manager Darrell Clarke after Adam Phillips was suspended.

The former Arsenal player’s goal proved vital in Barnsley’s promotion push, as the victory helped them maintain momentum in their quest for a return to the Championship.

For Nwakali, the strike was an important personal achievement, signaling the start of what he hopes will be a successful chapter in his career with Barnsley.

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Samuel Ahmadu
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.
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