Joseph Eneojo Akpala (born 24 August 1986) is a Nigerian football manager and former professional footballer who played as a forward. Since 2022, Akpala has been assistant coach at Kortrijk, taking over as caretaker coach for one match in September 2023, in between the dismissal of Edward Still and the appointment of Glen De Boeck, and taking the reins again following De Boeck's sacking in November 2023.
 Akpala with Karabükspor in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joseph Eneojo Akpala[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 August 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Jos, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2002 | Pepsi Football Academy | ||
| 2003–2004 | Bendel United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | Bendel Insurance | 19 | (13) |
| 2006–2008 | Charleroi | 61 | (24) |
| 2008–2012 | Club Brugge | 105 | (39) |
| 2012–2014 | Werder Bremen | 21 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | → Karabükspor (loan) | 11 | (4) |
| 2014–2015 | Karabükspor | 25 | (4) |
| 2015–2018 | KV Oostende | 62 | (12) |
| 2018–2019 | Al-Faisaly | 14 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | KV Oostende | 6 | (1) |
| 2021 | Dinamo București | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 325 | (90) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Nigeria U20 | 23 | (10) |
| 2008–2013 | Nigeria | 9 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2023 | Kortrijk (caretaker, two spells) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Akpala is a product of the Pepsi Football Academy in Lagos. His first professional contract came in April 2003 with Bendel United Football Club, a Division One club in Benin City. He later joined Bendel Insurance FC, Benin City in the Premier Division of the Nigerian Professional League, in February 2005. He was to finish as joint top scorer with 13 goals in 19 games.
Subsequently, Akpala was signed by the Royal Charleroi S.C. of Belgian Jupiler Pro League in January 2006. He wore the number 27 jersey. He had a very successful campaign in 2007–08 as he topped the scorers chart with 18 goals. On 18 July 2008, Akpala joined Club Brugge signing a contract until 2013.
On 22 August 2012, Bundesliga club Werder Bremen signed Akpala after facing competition from West Ham United and Celtic. On 19 August 2013, Akpala began a week-long trial with English Championship side Reading.[2]
On 3 September 2013, Akpala signed for Turkish Karabükspor on a season loan.[3] In 2014 the deal was made permanent and he left Bremen for good.
However, only after another year, in July 2015, he returned to Belgium, signing for K.V. Oostende on a three-year-contract.[4]
In April 2021, he joined Romanian club Dinamo București, signing a contract until the end of the 2020-21 season.[5]
International career
Akpala made his debut for Nigeria against South Africa on 6 September 2008. In June 2009, he scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 1–0 away win against France in Saint-Étienne.[6]
He was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.[7]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bendel Insurance | 2005 | Nigeria Professional Football League | 19 | 13 | 19 | 13 | ||||||
| Charleroi | 2005–06 | Belgian First Division | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | ||||||
| 2006–07 | 22 | 4 | 22 | 4 | ||||||||
| 2007–08 | 31 | 18 | 31 | 18 | ||||||||
| Total | 61 | 24 | 61 | 24 | ||||||||
| Club Brugge | 2008–09 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 6[a] | 1 | – | 38 | 16 | |
| 2009–10 | Belgian Pro League | 25 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 11[a] | 3 | 6[b] | 1 | 45 | 12 | |
| 2010–11 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 10[b] | 3 | 31 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 11[a] | 7 | 9[b] | 2 | 48 | 22 | ||
| 2012–13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 105 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 11 | 25 | 6 | 167 | 57 | ||
| Werder Bremen | 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 | 1 | |
| Kardemir Karabükspor (loan) | 2013–14 | Süper Lig | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 6 | |
| Kardemir Karabükspor | 2014–15 | Süper Lig | 25 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | – | 33 | 5 | |
| KV Oostende | 2015–16 | Belgian Pro League | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | 9[b] | 2 | 36 | 7 | |
| 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 9[b] | 3 | 21 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 9[b] | 3 | 38 | 9 | ||
| Total | 62 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 97 | 20 | ||
| Al Faisaly | 2018–19 | Saudi Pro League | 14 | 2 | 14 | 2 | ||||||
| KV Oostende | 2019–20 | Belgian First Division A | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Dinamo București | 2020–21 | Liga I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 325 | 100 | 20 | 4 | 37 | 11 | 52 | 14 | 434 | 129 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 1 | |
- Score and result list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Akpala goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 June 2009 | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France |  France | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
Honours
KV Oostende
- Belgian Cup: runner-up 2016–17
Individual
- Belgian First Division top scorer: 2007–08 (16 goals)
References
External links
- Joseph Akpala at Soccerway
- Joseph Akpala at National-Football-Teams.com