Carlos Akapo

Carlos Akapo Martínez (born 12 March 1993) is an Equatoguinean professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Cádiz CF as a right back or central defender.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Akapo and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
Carlos Akapo
Personal information
Full name Carlos Akapo Martínez
Date of birth (1993-03-12) 12 March 1993
Place of birth Elche, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Cádiz
Number 15
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– Cádiz 12 (0)
National team‡
2013– Equatorial Guinea 15 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2020

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,[1] and finished his formation with another club in the Valencian Community, Huracán Valencia CF; he made his senior debut with the latter on 22 January 2012, in a 1–2 home loss against RCD Mallorca B.[2]

On 11 July 2013, Akapo signed a two-year contract with Segunda División side CD Numancia.[3] His first game as a professional took place on 25 August, as he started in a 4–2 home win over Real Jaén.[4]

On 6 August 2014, Akapo joined Valencia CF and was assigned to the reserves in the third level.[5] After two seasons of relative playing time, he returned to division two after agreeing to a three-year deal with SD Huesca on 14 June 2016.[6]

Akapo was regularly used the following campaigns, and contributed with 20 appearances in 2017–18 as the club achieved a first-ever promotion to La Liga.[7] He made his debut in the competition on 25 September 2018, replacing Luisinho in a 0–3 loss at Atlético Madrid.[8]

On 20 June 2019, after suffering immediate relegation, Akapo signed a three-year contract with Cádiz CF of the second tier, as a free agent.[9][10]

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.[11] He did not leave the bench in the 0–4 loss, making his debut on 5 June 2013 in a friendly with Togo.[12]

International goals
As of 4 September 2016 (Equatorial Guinea score listed first, score column indicates score after each Akapo goal)
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 September 2016Nuevo Estadio, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea10 South Sudan4–04–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification[13]

References
  1. Entrevista a Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia) (Interview to Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia)); Falso9 Blog, 26 February 2013 (in Spanish)
  2. Crónica 2ª Div. B: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B (2 Div. B report: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B); Fútbol Balear, 22 January 2012 (in Spanish)
  3. Akapo y Gaffoor refuerzan la defensa del Numancia (Akapo and Gaffoor bolster Numancia's defence); Marca, 11 July 2013 (in Spanish)
  4. 4–2: El Numancia gana de cabeza al Jaén (4–2: Numancia beat Jaén using their head); Mundo Deportivo, 25 August 2013 (in Spanish)
  5. El Valencia ficha al lateral Carlos Akapo, que llega del Numancia (Valencia sign full-back Carlos Akapo, who arrives from Numancia); Marca, 6 August 2014 (in Spanish)
  6. Carlos Akapo ficha por la SD Huesca (Carlos Akapo signs for SD Huesca); SD Huesca, 14 June 2016 (in Spanish)
  7. 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] (in Spanish). El Confidencial. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. 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] (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. "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.
  10. 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.
  11. Los jugadores Akapo y Fabiani, convocados por Guinea Ecuatorial (Players Akapo and Fabiani, called by Equatorial Guinea); Diario Sur, 29 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  12. Amistoso: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1) (Friendly: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1)) Archived 15 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; Fútbol de Guinea Ecuatorial, 6 June 2013 (in Spanish)
  13. "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.
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