Joseph Akpala
 | |||
| 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) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Karabükspor | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2002 | Pepsi Football Academy | ||
| 2003–2005 | Bendel United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2006 | Bendel Insurance | 19 | (13) |
| 2006–2008 | Charleroi | 61 | (25) |
| 2008–2012 | Club Brugge | 130 | (44) |
| 2012– | Werder Bremen | 21 | (1) |
| 2013– | → Karabükspor (loan) | 10 | (4) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Nigeria | 9 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 December 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Joseph Eneojo Akpala (born 24 August 1986 in Jos, Northern Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer. He currently plays for the Turkish side Karabükspor on loan from Werder Bremen.
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.
Akpala was then signed by the Royal Charleroi Sporting Club in the Belgian Jupiler League in January 2006. He wore the no 27 jersey. He had a very successful campaign in the 2007–08 Belgian League 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, 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 Joseph Akpala sign for Karabukspor on a season loan. [3]
International
He made his debut for Nigeria on 6 September 2008 against South Africa. Akpala scored his first goal for Nigeria in a game against France in which Nigeria won 0–1 in Saint Etienne.
He was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.[4]
Personal
Akpala's family have a long tradition of goat farming in their home of Jos. On signing for Club Brugge Akpala purchased some goats and a paddock to continue the family tradition in his spare time.
References
- ↑ "fcclop_neutral.pdf" (PDF). FIFA.com. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
- ↑ Watts, Charles (19 August 2013). "Reading to take a look at Nigerian international striker Akpala". getreading.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23970553
- ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
External links
- Joseph Akpala at National-Football-Teams.com
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