Nigerian midfielder Kelechi Nwakali finds himself in hot water once again after GD Chaves, his current club, filed a disciplinary case against him for being on his phone while on the substitute's bench during their relegation-confirming defeat against FC Famalicão.
The 1-0 loss on Friday marked a disastrous end to Chaves' two-year stint in the top tier of Portuguese football, Liga Portugal Betclic. Gustavo Sá's goal in the second minute of stoppage time secured the win for Famalicão and mathematically condemned Chaves to relegation.
While the defeat itself dominated the headlines, Nwakali's actions on the bench drew the ire of the club's management.
Chaves' relegation confirmed
Chaves' fate was sealed due to their position on the league table. With 23 points from 33 games, they languished in 17th place, a significant five points behind Portimonense, who occupy the relegation playoff spot. The defeat against Famalicão extinguished any remaining hope of avoiding the drop.
This relegation marks a significant setback for Chaves, who had established themselves in the top-flight for the past two seasons. Now, the focus shifts to who will compete in the relegation play-off alongside the third-placed team from the II Liga. Portimonense, Estrela da Amadora, Boavista, Estoril, and Gil Vicente are still at risk of finishing in the ante-penultimate position and being forced to fight for survival among the elites
Kelechi Nwakali's disciplinary woes resurface
While Chaves' relegation dominated the post-match discussion, Nwakali's phone use on the bench garnered unwanted attention. This incident reignited concerns about the midfielder's disciplinary issues, which have previously hampered his progress.
In 2022, Nwakali was shown the exit door by his former club, SD Huesca, due to what was termed ‘disciplinary issues' by the Spanish club. Despite featuring in 19 league games before joining the Nigerian national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, he was deemed surplus to requirements upon his return. Huesca remained tight-lipped about the exact reasons for his departure.
The Aragon team confirmed in a statement on their website that they have parted ways with the former Nigeria U-17 captain but could not divulge the reason behind the decision.
“Sociedad Deportiva Huesca have terminated the contractual relationship maintained by the first team player Kelechi Nwakali with the Barca entity,” the club wrote in a statement.
“The club has informed the player of the decision to terminate the contract that united both in the current campaign but expired in June 2022.
“SD Huesca wishes Nwakali the best in his professional future.”
This latest episode with Chaves suggests that Nwakali's disciplinary problems persist. It remains to be seen what repercussions he will face from the club's disciplinary committee.
A career of unfulfilled potential
Nwakali's story is one of unfulfilled potential. Once touted as a prodigious talent, his career trajectory has taken a number of unexpected turns.
He rose to prominence in 2015 after captaining Nigeria to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. His exceptional performances throughout the tournament earned him the Golden Ball award, a recognition of his outstanding skills and leadership on the pitch.
This success attracted the attention of Arsenal, who snapped him up in 2016. However, Nwakali was unable to break into the Gunners' first team, spending loan spells at MVV Maastricht, VVV-Venlo, and FC Porto B before eventually leaving the club in 2019.
His move to Huesca offered a chance for him to establish himself in Europe, but his disciplinary issues led to a premature exit. After a brief stint at Alcorcon, he joined Chaves in 2023.
Nwakali's former coach offers advice
Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwakali's coach during Nigeria's triumphant U-17 World Cup campaign, previously spoke about the midfielder's need to focus and channel his talent productively.
Amuneke, a former Nigerian international himself, acknowledged Nwakali's exceptional skills but emphasized the importance of discipline and dedication. He urged Nwakali to “counsel himself” and recognize the importance of hard work and a focused lifestyle in achieving his full potential.
“There is nothing to doubt about Nwakali’s talent. There are some qualities that are natural gifts from God and he possesses them,”
“As a player and coach, I have seen a lot of good players and midfielders but the kind of quality Nwakali possesses is what I have not seen in any other Nigerian.
“He is a kind of player that can see beyond what other players are seeing, a player that has a vision and a player who can play a ball that can result in a goal.
“All he needs to do is counsel himself and realise that when you forget the root that took you to success, you start to lose the beauty of what made you who you are.
“A lot of Nigerians are expecting his progression but it is unfortunate because of what he has passed through over the years. He also needs to check the kind of lifestyle he is living and know that without football, he is a nobody.” Amuneke told GOAL.
Nwakali faces uncertain future
With Chaves facing the challenges of the second division, Nwakali's future remains uncertain. Whether he will remain at the club or seek a move elsewhere hinges on the outcome of the disciplinary case, and his ability to demonstrate the commitment and focus that his former coach believes is crucial for his success.
