‘It happens’ – Kelechi Nwakali reflects on Barnsley debut

Kelechi Nwakali reflected on his debut for Barnsley in their 2-0 defeat against Huddersfield Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, expressing disappointment but also highlighting the significance of his first competitive match.

The Nigerian midfielder, who joined Barnsley two months ago, made his debut following an impressive showing in a Professional Development League fixture against Peterborough United.

Kelechi Nwakali was candid in his post-match remarks, acknowledging the frustration of losing to Huddersfield Town twice within three days. “It’s a difficult moment. We lost on Saturday to them, and losing again today is disappointing. We came here to win, but it’s football—it happens,” he told Barnsley’s media team.

Despite the result, Nwakali took a positive stance on his debut performance. “I feel good because it has been a long time. I’m here to help the team and prove my worth,” he said, noting that playing in a full stadium for his competitive debut was an important step. Nwakali had built up his fitness with appearances in Barnsley’s development squad and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step up to first-team action.

Looking ahead, the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner emphasized his ambition to contribute to Barnsley’s success. “The most important thing is to improve my game and help the team achieve their goals. I believe the aim is promotion,” Nwakali stated.

Despite hobbling off the pitch in a previous development squad game, the 26-year-old was cleared to feature for Barnsley in the Trophy match, completing the full 90 minutes. He will now be targeting his League One debut after the international break.