Alex Tayo Akande

Alexander Oluwatayo Akande (Chinese: 艾力士; born 9 February 1989), more commonly known as Alex Akande or Alex Tayo Akande, is a professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for China League One club Shanghai Jiading Huilong. Born in Nigeria, he represents Hong Kong at international level.

Alex Akande
Personal information
Full name Alexander Oluwatayo Akande
Date of birth (1989-02-09) 9 February 1989
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Shanghai Jiading Huilong
Number 13
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Tai Chung 7 (7)
2009 Eastern 16 (6)
2009–2010 Kitchee 10 (4)
2009–2010 → Tai Chung (loan) 12 (4)
2010–2011 Tai Chung 19 (3)
2011–2012 Rangers (HKG) 2 (1)
2012 → HK Sapling (loan) 10 (7)
2012–2013 Tai Po 18 (13)
2013–2018 Kitchee 51 (24)
2018 Yanbian Fude 16 (2)
2019–2021 Dalian Pro 3 (0)
2021–2023 Kitchee 19 (0)
2023– Shanghai Jiading Huilong 5 (0)
International career‡
2015– Hong Kong 29 (10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2022

Club career

Advance Tai Chung and Eastern

Akande arrived in Hong Kong in 2008 and played for Tai Chung in the Hong Kong second division league. His prolific performance soon drew interest of first division side Eastern. Akande joined Eastern in January 2009 and finished the season with 6 goals.

Tai Chung and Kitchee

Akande returned to Tai Chung in season 2009-10. After scoring 3 goals in 12 matches for Tai Chung in half a season, he joined Kitchee in mid-season following the departure of Kitchee's Spanish striking duo Albert Virgili Fort and Raul Torres.

The transfer also gave Akande an opportunity to play the 2010 Lunar New Year Cup as he played for Kitchee against Pegasus Invitation team and Korean side Pohang Steelers. In two 45 minutes matches, Akande scored against Pegasus Invitation in a 1-0 win and assisted his teammates in a 1-1 draw against the 2009 AFC Champions League winner. Despite losing the title to Pohang Steelers due to one less goal scored, Akande was named the MVP of the tournament.

Akande scored 4 more goals for Kitchee in local competitions during his half-season spell .

Tai Chung

Akande once again returned to Tai Chung and played a full season for the team in season 2010-11. His 3 goals in 19 matches were not enough to save Tai Chung from relegation.

Rangers and Hong Kong Sapling

Akande's 4th season in Hong Kong began with joining Rangers. He was loaned to Hong Kong Sapling, a development team formed by the Hong Kong Football Association, in the mid-season after a slow start at Biu Chun Rangers.

Akande found his scoring touch soon after joining Hong Kong Sapling, where he scored 9 goals in 12 matches. However the Hong Kong F.A. decided not to continue running Hong Kong Sapling after the team failed to avoid relegation. As a result, Hong Kong Sapling were disbanded after the season.

Tai Po

Akande joined another Hong Kong First Division club Tai Po in season 2012-13, in which he played one of his best seasons in his career. He scored 5 goals including a hat-trick against Tuen Mun in the quarter-final for the 2012-13 Senior Shield that contributed the team's first ever title-triumph in the tournament. He finished the season with a tally of 19 goals in all competitions.

His performance also earned him a place in the Hong Kong League XI for the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup where he played against Busan I'Park from Korea and Muangthong United from Thailand in this annual International tournament.

However, despite his prolific performance up front, the team's vulnerable defense cost them the place in the top-tier league. Tai Po were involved in a relegation battle-turmoil in which totally 6 teams were fighting to avoid relegation on the final day of the league. He opened the score for Tai Po in a huge battle against Yokohama FC Hong Kong, another team in this turmoil. Yet Tai Po conceded a heart-breaking final-second goal which cancelled their lead and sent them to relegation dramatically.

Second spell at Kitchee

Following the relegation of Tai Po, Akande rejoined Kitchee. The club began the season with an International exhibition match with Manchester United.[1] He had the chance to play against the defending Premier League champions, and scored a brilliant goal in the 2–5 defeat as he turned Man United's defender Alex Buttner inside out before firing home.

Akande also had his first opportunity in continental competition as he was chosen as one of the four foreign players for the 2013 AFC Cup quarter-final match against Al-Faisaly from Jordan. Kitchee lost the 1st leg at home in a 1–2 defeat to the Jordanian side with Akande once equalized the score in the early 2nd half. Kitchee were eliminated from the competition with a same scoreline in the 2nd leg.

The season ended well for both Kitchee and Akande, as Kitchee had an invincible season as the league champions with 16 points above the runners-up Pegasus, while Akande added 10 more goals to his tally in all local competitions.

Kitchee began their new season with an international exhibition match against PSG[2] at Hong Kong Stadium on 2014 July 29. Akande once again found the back of the net against a European giant in this 2–6 defeat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick.

The same season Kitchee appointed former Spanish International and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper José Francisco Molina as their head coach. Aiming for higher success in the 2014 AFC Cup and the 2015 AFC Champions League Playoffs. However Akande picked up an injury in a training session in early season which forced him to miss the rest of the season. After a successful surgery he went to the United States for his rehab with specialized physical therapy. The rehab was a success and he was ready to return for the next season.

Dalian Yifang

Following the bankruptcy of Yanbian Fude, Akande moved to Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang on 28 February 2019.[3] He made his debut three days later in a 1–1 draw against Henan Jianye.[4]

Third spell at Kitchee

Having made only a few appearances for Dalian, Akande was released by the club. On 31 March 2021, Kitchee confirmed that Akande has rejoined the club.[5]

Shanghai Jiading Huilong

On 1 July 2023, Akande joined China League One club Shanghai Jiading Huilong.[6]

International career

Akande was born in Nigeria, but after living for more than seven years in Hong Kong, he obtained his Hong Kong residency and became eligible to play for the Hong Kong national team in October 2015.[7] He was immediately called up by the Hong Kong national team for the friendly match against Myanmar on 7 November 2015 at Mongkok Stadium. Akande made his international debut in this match and scored his first international goal for Hong Kong in the 5-0 victory.[8] He soon made his international debut for Hong Kong in a friendly match against Myanmar on 7 November 2015. He also scored on his debut in this 5-0 win.[9]

Akande started in the 2018 World Cup AFC qualification second round match against Maldives on 12 November 2015 in which Hong Kong defeated the home side in a narrow 1-0 win. He then played against China and Qatar in the same competition. Hong Kong finished the group stage as the 2nd runners-up and secured a direct entry to the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying third round.

Since making his International debut and the managerial change of Kitchee in mid-season, Akande has recovered his scoring form before the injury by scoring 10 goals in 18 matches including 2 goals in the League Cup final victory which saw Kitchee lifted this trophy for the historical fifth times.

On 9 November 2016, Akande scored four goals to lead Hong Kong to a 4-2 victory over Chinese Taipei in the 2017 EAFF East Asian Cup Second Round.[10]

Akande played all the remaining three 2018 World Cup AFC qualification second round matches of the Hong Kong national team against Maldives,[11] China[12] and Qatar.[13] Hong Kong completed the group stage as the 2nd runners-up and secured a direct entry to the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying third round.

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of match played 31 December 2020.[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Advance Tai Chung 2008–09 Hong Kong Second Division League 7733–0[lower-alpha 1]01010
Eastern 2008–09 Hong Kong First Division League 13333–0[lower-alpha 1]0166
Kitchee 2009–10 9410–0[lower-alpha 1]0104
Tai Chung (loan) 10420–0[lower-alpha 1]0124
Tai Chung 2010–11 17330–0[lower-alpha 1]0203
Rangers 2011–12 3210–0[lower-alpha 1]042
Hong Kong Sapling (loan) 10722–0[lower-alpha 1]0129
Tai Po 2012–13 181352–7[lower-alpha 1]43019
Kitchee 2013–14 16710–1[lower-alpha 1]0187
2014–15 Hong Kong Premier League 1000000[lower-alpha 1]010
2015–16 13700002[lower-alpha 1]0157
2016–17 11530211[lower-alpha 1]0176
2017–18 10522602[lower-alpha 1]1208
Total 51246281617128
Yanbian Fude 2018 China League One16200--162
Dalian Pro 2019 Chinese Super League 3010--40
Career total 1576927128113520587
  1. Appearances in Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield

International
As of matches played 24 September 2022
National teamYearAppsGoals
Hong Kong 201531
201678
201760
201861
201950
202000
202100
202220
Total2910

International goals
Scores and results list Hong Kong's goal tally first.[15]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 November 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Myanmar5–05–0Friendly
2.6 October 2016Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Cambodia2–02–0Friendly
3.11 October 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Singapore1–02–0Friendly
4.6 November 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Guam1–03–22017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualification
5.3–0
6.9 November 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong Chinese Taipei1–04–22017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualification
7.2–0
8.3–1
9.4–1
10.16 November 2018Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan Mongolia5–15–12019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualification

Honour

Tai Po

Kitchee

References
  1. "Far East Tour: Manchester United score five times against Kitchee in Hong Kong".
  2. "Paris Saint-Germain light up Hong Kong Stadium - but organisers fail to break even".
  3. "又有港將「升班」！艾力士加盟中超大連一方". Sports Road. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019. (in Chinese)
  4. "艾力士征豫或演中超地標". Ming Pao Vancouver. Retrieved 3 March 2019. (in Chinese)
  5. "艾力士重返傑志". Kitchee SC. Retrieved 30 March 2021. (in Chinese)
  6. "官宣｜球员艾力士、杰弗森·席尔瓦、鲍盛鑫正式加盟上海嘉定汇龙足球" (in Chinese). Sina Weibo. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  7. "NIGERIA'S ALEX AKANDE SET TO OBTAIN HONG KONG PASSPORT".
  8. "International friendly sees new faces impress for Hong Kong in stroll over Myanmar".
  9. "HKFA - News : International Friendly Match - Hong Kong 5:0 Myanmar".
  10. "Alex Akande scores four as Hong Kong beat Taiwan 4-2 to set up North Korea showdown". South China Morning Post. 9 November 2016.
  11. "FIFA.com | Maldives 1:0 Hong Kong". Archived from the original on 23 June 2015.
  12. "Fifa.com | HONG KONG 0-0 China PR". Archived from the original on 23 June 2015.
  13. "Qatar wins 2-0 as Hong Kong exits World Cup".
  14. "ALEXANDER OLUWATAYO AKANDE". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  15. "Akande, Alex Tayo". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
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