Carlos Akapo
Carlos Akapo Martínez (born 12 March 1993) is an Equatoguinean professional footballer who plays for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the Equatorial Guinea national team as a right-back or central defender.
![]() Akapo with Equatorial Guinea in 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Carlos Akapo Martínez[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 12 March 1993||
Place of birth | Elche, Spain | ||
Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | San Jose Earthquakes | ||
Number | 29 | ||
Youth career | |||
1998–2008 | Kelme | ||
2008–2009 | Hércules | ||
2009–2011 | Elche | ||
2011–2012 | Huracán | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012–2013 | Huracán | 24 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Numancia | 29 | (0) |
2014–2016 | Valencia B | 39 | (0) |
2016–2019 | Huesca | 61 | (0) |
2019–2022 | Cádiz | 45 | (1) |
2022– | San Jose Earthquakes | 21 | (2) |
International career‡ | |||
2013– | Equatorial Guinea | 28 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:07, 7 September 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:07, 7 September 2023 (UTC) |
Club career
Akapo was born in Elche, Province of Alicante, to an Equatoguinean father and a Spanish mother. He played youth football with four clubs, including Hércules CF and Elche CF, and finished his development also in the Valencian Community with Huracán Valencia CF.[2][3] He made his senior debut with the latter on 22 January 2012, in a 2–1 home loss against RCD Mallorca B.[4]
On 11 July 2013, Akapo signed a two-year contract with Segunda División side CD Numancia.[5] His first game as a professional took place on 25 August, as he started in a 4–2 home win over Real Jaén.[6]
On 6 August 2014, Akapo joined Valencia CF and was assigned to the reserves in the third tier.[7] After two seasons of relative playing time, he returned to division two after agreeing to a three-year deal at SD Huesca on 14 June 2016.[8]
Akapo was regularly used the following campaigns, and contributed 20 appearances in 2017–18 as the club achieved a first-ever promotion to La Liga.[9] He made his debut in the competition on 25 September 2018, replacing Luisinho in a 3–0 defeat at Atlético Madrid.[10]
On 20 June 2019, after suffering immediate relegation, Akapo signed a three-year contract with Cádiz CF of the second division, as a free agent.[11][12] He featured sparingly in his first season at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza, in a promotion as runners-up.[13]
Akapo scored his first goal in the Spanish top tier – also his first as a senior – on 21 May 2021, his team's second in the 2–2 away draw against Levante UD.[14] On 5 August 2022, he joined Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes on a one-and-half year deal.[15]
International career
Akapo received his first call from Equatorial Guinea in late August 2012, for a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo DR the following month.[16] He did not leave the bench in the 4–0 loss, making his debut on 5 June 2013 in a friendly with Togo.[17]
Akapo's first major tournament was the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] He played all the minutes but one in Cameroon to help his team reach the quarter-finals; in the round of 16 against Mali, he converted his attempt in the penalty shootout.[19]
Personal life
Akapo's younger brother, Javier, is also a defender and an international for Equatorial Guinea.[20]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Huracán | 2011–12 | Segunda División B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
2012–13 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
Total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
Numancia | 2013–14 | Segunda División | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | |
Valencia B | 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 11 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
2015–16 | 28 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 | ||||
Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
Huesca | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 33 | 0 |
2017–18 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
2018–19 | La Liga | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
Total | 61 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 0 | ||
Cádiz | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
2020–21 | La Liga | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 16 | 1 | ||
Total | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
Career total | 173 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 1 |
- Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs
International
- As of match played 17 June 2023[23]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Equatorial Guinea | 2013 | 3 | 0 |
2015 | 4 | 0 | |
2016 | 4 | 1 | |
2018 | 2 | 0 | |
2019 | 1 | 0 | |
2020 | 2 | 0 | |
2021 | 6 | 0 | |
2022 | 5 | 0 | |
2023 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 28 | 1 |
- As of 4 September 2016
- Scores and results list Equatorial Guinea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Akapo goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 September 2016 | Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea | 10 | ![]() | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification[24] |
References
- "Carlos Akapo". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- Martín, Diego (26 February 2013). "Entrevista a Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia)" [Interview to Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia)] (in Spanish). Falso 9. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- Palomar, Julián (18 November 2013). "Un ilicitano en Malabo" [A ilicitano in Malabo]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- "Crónica 2ª Div. B: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B" [2 Div. B report: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B] (in Spanish). Fútbol Balear. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- "Akapo y Gaffoor refuerzan la defensa del Numancia" [Akapo and Gaffoor bolster Numancia's defence]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 July 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- "4–2: El Numancia gana de cabeza al Jaén" [4–2: Numancia beat Jaén using their head]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 25 August 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- "El Valencia ficha al lateral Carlos Akapo, que llega del Numancia" [Valencia sign full-back Carlos Akapo, who arrives from Numancia]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 August 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- "Carlos Akapo ficha por la SD Huesca" [Carlos Akapo signs for SD Huesca] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- Sánchez-Flor, Ulises (22 May 2018). "El milagro del ascenso del Huesca a Primera: 8 millones y el 'cerebro' que no quiso Zidane" [The miracle of Huesca's promotion to Primera: 8 million and the 'brain' that Zidane did not want]. El Confidencial (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- Muñoz, Elena (25 September 2018). "Atlético 3 – Huesca 0: resultado, resumen y goles. LaLiga Santander" [Atlético 3 – Huesca 0: score, highlights and goals. LaLiga Santander]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "Akapo es el primer fichaje de la nueva temporada" [Akapo is the first signing of the new season] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- González, Eugenio (20 June 2019). "Carlos Akapo, primer fichaje del Cádiz CF 2019/20" [Carlos Akapo, first signing of 2019/20 Cádiz] (in Spanish). Tercer Equipo. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- "Carlos Akapo" (in Spanish). La Voz Digital. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- Adewoye, Gbenga (21 May 2021). "Carlos Akapo scores first La Liga goal as Cadiz end season with draw against Levante". Goal. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- "NEWS: Earthquakes sign defender Carlos Akapo". San Jose Earthquakes. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- "Los jugadores Akapo y Fabiani, convocados por Guinea Ecuatorial" [Players Akapo and Fabiani, called by Equatorial Guinea]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). 29 August 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- "Amistoso: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1)" [Friendly: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1)] (in Spanish). Fútbol de Guinea Ecuatorial. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "Afcon 2021: Clubless Nsue named in Equatorial Guinea squad for Cameroon". BBC Sport. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- "Mali 0–0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- Bernabeu, Álvaro (30 April 2020). "Carlos y Javier Akapo: Dos hermanos y defensas de categoría" [Carlos and Javier Akapo: Two brothers and top-flight footballers] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- Carlos Akapo at BDFutbol
- Carlos Akapo at Soccerway
- "Carlos Akapo – Matches". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- "Contundente victoria del Nzalang Nacional frente a Sudán del Sur" [Powerful win for Nzalang Nacional against South Sudan] (in Spanish). Guinea Ecuatorial Press. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
External links
- Carlos Akapo at BDFutbol
- Carlos Akapo at Futbolme (in Spanish)
- Carlos Akapo at National-Football-Teams.com
- Carlos Akapo – FIFA competition record (archived)