Axel Mpoyo
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Axel Mpoyo
| team = APR
| height_m = 2.03
| nationality = Rwandan
| number = 7
| college = Grambling State (2015–2017)
| high_school = Northeastern Junior College
(Sterling, Colorado)
| position = Small forward
| league = BAL
RBL
| birth_place = Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|1|5}}
| career_start = 2019
| years1 = 2019–2020
| team1 = APOEL
| years2 = 2020
| team2 = Trepça
| years3 = 2022–2023
| team3 = REG
| years4 = 2022–present
| team4 = APR
| highlights = * 3× RBL champion (2022–2024)
- RBL Most Valuable Player (2022)|
| years5 = 2023–2024
| team5 = Pico FC
}}
Axel Mpoyo (born January 5, 1997) is a Rwandan basketball player who plays for APR of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) and Basketball Africa League (BAL). He also plays for the Rwanda national team.
Early life
Mpoyo was born in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Congolese father rand Rwandanese mother. He has two brothers and a sister. He left the country at an early age for the United States, and attended Meridian High School in Idaho. At Meridian, he also tried football and track running, before opting to pursue basketball after growing to {{Height|ft=6|in=4}}.{{Cite web |last=Sikubwabo |first=Damas |date=2021-03-28 |title=One-on-one with Axel Mpoyo, Rwanda’s new power-forward |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/184926/Sports/one-on-one-with-axel-mpoyo-rwandaas-new-power-forward |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=The New Times |language=en}}
College career
Mpoyo played collegiate with Grambling State University, playing for the Tigers basketball team.
Professional career
In his rookie year, Mpoyo played for Cypriot team APOEL in the Cyprus Basketball Division A. He did not finish the season with the team, as he transferred to KB Trepça in Kosovo mid-season.
Mpoyo played with Rwandan team REG starting from the 2021–22 season. He helped REG win the 2021–22 league title, and was named MVP.{{Cite web |last=Sikubwabo |first=Damas |date=2022-09-24 |title=Photos: Basketball: Axel Mpoyo named MVP as league winds up |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/1277/sports/basketball/photos-basketball-axel-mpoyo-named-mvp-as-league-winds-up |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=The New Times |language=en}} played with them in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.{{Cite web |last=Sikubwabo |first=Damas |date=2023-04-27 |title=Mpoyo added to REG roster for BAL playoffs |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/7021/sports/basketball/mpoyo-added-to-reg-roster-for-bal-playoffs |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The New Times |language=en}}
In October 2022, Mpoyo joined the Rwandan team APR of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL).{{Cite web |last=Sikubwabo |first=Damas |date=2022-10-06 |title=Basketball: APR signs trio of Mpoyo, Ntore and Nshobozwa |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/1579/sports/basketball/basketball-apr-signs-trio-of-mpoyo-ntore-and-nshobozwa |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The New Times |language=en}} He helped them win the RBL title in 2023 and 2024.
In the 2023–24 season, Mpoyo played in Argentina with Pico FC.{{Cite web |last=Eurobasket |title=Pico Football Club de General Pico Basketball Roster 2023-2024 |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/index.aspx |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Eurobasket LLC}}
On June 13, 2025, Mpoyo scored 10 three-point field goals in the third place game of the 2025 BAL season, setting a new Basketball Africa League (BAL) record.{{Cite web |last=Sikubwabo |first=Damas |date=2022-10-06 |title=Basketball: APR signs trio of Mpoyo, Ntore and Nshobozwa |url=https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/1579/sports/basketball/basketball-apr-signs-trio-of-mpoyo-ntore-and-nshobozwa |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The New Times |language=en}} He surpassed the record set by Will Perry, who had scored nine three-pointers. Mpoyo's performance helped APR win the game, setting a league record in most points in a game with 123 and finishing in third place.
National team career
Mpoyo has represented the Rwanda national team, and has played with the team at FIBA AfroBasket 2021, as well as in other qualifying tournaments.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-20 |title=Alex Mpoyo (Rwanda) - Basketball Stats, Height, Age {{!}} FIBA Basketball |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/297753-alex-mpoyo |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.fiba.basketball |language=en}}
References
Category:Rwandan men's basketball players