Carlos Akapo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Carlos Akapo

| image = Célébration EG (4) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Akapo with Equatorial Guinea in 2022

| fullname = Carlos Akapo Martínez{{cite news|url=https://resultados.as.com/resultados/ficha/deportista/carlos_akapo/22816/|title=Carlos Akapo|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|access-date=27 January 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|3|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Elche, Spain

| height = 1.79 m

| position = Right-back

| currentclub = Amazonas

| clubnumber = 15

| youthyears1 = 1998–2008 | youthclubs1 = Kelme

| youthyears2 = 2008–2009 | youthclubs2 = Hércules

| youthyears3 = 2009–2011 | youthclubs3 = Elche

| youthyears4 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs4 = Huracán

| years1 = 2012–2013 | clubs1 = Huracán | caps1 = 24 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2013–2014 | clubs2 = Numancia | caps2 = 29 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2014–2016 | clubs3 = Valencia B | caps3 = 39 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2016–2019 | clubs4 = Huesca | caps4 = 61 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2019–2022 | clubs5 = Cádiz | caps5 = 45 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2022–2024 | clubs6 = San Jose Earthquakes | caps6 = 50 | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Amazonas | caps7 = 2 | goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2013– | nationalteam1 = Equatorial Guinea | nationalcaps1 = 44 | nationalgoals1 = 2

| club-update = 20:45, 22 April 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 20:45, 22 April 2025 (UTC)

}}

Carlos Akapo Martínez (born 12 March 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Amazonas. Born in Spain, he represents Equatorial Guinea at international level.

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 and Elche, and finished his development also in the Valencian Community with Huracán.{{cite web|url=http://falso9blog.blogspot.com/2013/02/entrevista-carlos-akapo-jugador-del.html|title=Entrevista a Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia)|trans-title=Interview to Carlos Akapo (Huracán Valencia)|publisher=Falso 9|first=Diego|last=Martín|language=es|date=26 February 2013|access-date=6 June 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.informacion.es/elche-cf/2013/11/18/ilicitano-malabo-6548696.html|title=Un ilicitano en Malabo|trans-title=A ilicitano in Malabo|newspaper=Diario Información|first=Julián|last=Palomar|language=es|date=18 November 2013|access-date=22 May 2021}} He made his senior debut with the latter on 22 January 2012, in a 2–1 home loss against Mallorca B.{{cite web|url=http://www.futbolbalear.es/2012/01/22/cronica-2-div-b-huracan-valencia-1-2-mallorca-b/|title=Crónica 2ª Div. B: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B|trans-title=2 Div. B report: Huracán Valencia 1–2 Mallorca B|publisher=Fútbol Balear|language=es|date=22 January 2012|access-date=6 June 2013}}

On 11 July 2013, Akapo signed a two-year contract with Segunda División side Numancia.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/07/11/futbol/equipos/numancia/1373554119.html|title=Akapo y Gaffoor refuerzan la defensa del Numancia|trans-title=Akapo and Gaffoor bolster Numancia's defence|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=11 July 2013|access-date=14 June 2016}} His first game as a professional took place on 25 August, as he started in a 4–2 home win over Real Jaén.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20130825/futbol/4-2-el-numancia-gana-de-cabeza-al-jaen_54379781636.html|title=4–2: El Numancia gana de cabeza al Jaén|trans-title=4–2: Numancia beat Jaén using their head|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=25 August 2013|access-date=22 June 2016}}

On 6 August 2014, Akapo joined Valencia and was assigned to the reserves in the third tier.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/08/06/futbol/equipos/valencia/1407350075.html|title=El Valencia ficha al lateral Carlos Akapo, que llega del Numancia|trans-title=Valencia sign full-back Carlos Akapo, who arrives from Numancia|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=6 August 2014|access-date=14 June 2016}} After two seasons of relative playing time, he returned to division two after agreeing to a three-year deal at Huesca on 14 June 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.sdhuesca.es/noticia/carlos-akapo-ficha-por-la-sd-huesca|title=Carlos Akapo ficha por la SD Huesca|trans-title=Carlos Akapo signs for SD Huesca|publisher=SD Huesca|language=es|date=14 June 2016|access-date=14 June 2016}}

Akapo was regularly used in the following campaigns, and contributed 20 appearances in 2017–18 as the club achieved a first-ever promotion to La Liga.{{cite news|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/2018-05-22/huesca-primera-division-ascenso-milagro-lugo_1567233/|title=El milagro del ascenso del Huesca a Primera: 8 millones y el 'cerebro' que no quiso Zidane|trans-title=The miracle of Huesca's promotion to Primera: 8 million and the 'brain' that Zidane did not want|newspaper=El Confidencial|first=Ulises|last=Sánchez-Flor|language=es|date=22 May 2018|access-date=28 August 2019}} He made his debut in the competition on 25 September 2018, replacing Luisinho in a 3–0 defeat at Atlético Madrid.{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2018/09/25/primera/1537901116_278963.html|title=Atlético 3 – Huesca 0: resultado, resumen y goles. LaLiga Santander|trans-title=Atlético 3 – Huesca 0: score, highlights and goals. LaLiga Santander|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Elena|last=Muñoz|language=es|date=25 September 2018|access-date=28 August 2019}}

On 20 June 2019, after suffering immediate relegation, Akapo signed a three-year contract with Cádiz of the second division, as a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.cadizcf.com/noticia/akapo-es-el-primer-fichaje-de-la-nueva-temporada|title=Akapo es el primer fichaje de la nueva temporada|trans-title=Akapo is the first signing of the new season|publisher=Cádiz CF|language=es|date=20 June 2019|access-date=20 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://tercerequipo.com/2019/06/carlos-akapo-primer-fichaje-del-cadiz-cf-2019-20/|title=Carlos Akapo, primer fichaje del Cádiz CF 2019/20|trans-title=Carlos Akapo, first signing of 2019/20 Cádiz|publisher=Tercer Equipo|first=Eugenio|last=González|language=es|date=20 June 2019|access-date=16 May 2020}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} He featured sparingly in his first season at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza, in a promotion as runners-up.{{cite web|url=https://www.lavozdigital.es/canal-amarillo/lvdi-carlos-akapo-202009071639_noticia.html|title=Carlos Akapo|publisher=La Voz Digital|language=es|date=9 September 2020|access-date=22 May 2021}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-kw/news/carlos-akapo-scores-first-la-liga-goal-as-cadiz-end-season/1o8vmp0fdm1zw1hmfz4ukwzync|title=Carlos Akapo scores first La Liga goal as Cadiz end season with draw against Levante|publisher=Goal|first=Gbenga|last=Adewoye|date=21 May 2021|access-date=22 May 2021}} On 5 August 2022, he joined Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes on a one-and-a-half-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-sign-defender-carlos-akapo|title=NEWS: Earthquakes sign defender Carlos Akapo|publisher=San Jose Earthquakes|date=5 August 2022|access-date=5 August 2022}}

On 14 February 2025, Akapo moved to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B with Amazonas.{{cite web|url=https://portalesportemanaus.com.br/carlos-akapo-e-da-onca-amazonas-fc-anuncia-chegada-de-lateral-capitao-de-selecao-africana/|title=Carlos Akapo é da Onça: Amazonas FC anuncia chegada de lateral capitão de seleção africana|trans-title=Carlos Akapo to the Jaguar: Amazonas FC announce arrival of full-back captain of African national team|publisher=Esporte Manaus|language=pt|date=14 February 2025|access-date=14 February 2025}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariosur.es/agencias/20120829/deportes/futbol/jugadores-akapo-fabiani-convocados-guinea_201208291231.html|title=Los jugadores Akapo y Fabiani, convocados por Guinea Ecuatorial|trans-title=Players Akapo and Fabiani, called by Equatorial Guinea|newspaper=Diario Sur|language=es|date=29 August 2012|access-date=6 June 2013}} He did not leave the bench in the 4–0 loss, making his debut on 5 June 2013 in a friendly with Togo.{{cite web|url=http://futboldeguinea.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/amistoso-nzalang-0-togo-1/|title=Amistoso: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1)|trans-title=Friendly: Nzalang (0) – Togo (1)|publisher=Fútbol de Guinea Ecuatorial|language=es|date=6 June 2013|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315193930/https://futboldeguinea.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/amistoso-nzalang-0-togo-1/|archive-date=15 March 2016}}

Akapo's first major tournament was the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/59803949|title=Afcon 2021: Clubless Nsue named in Equatorial Guinea squad for Cameroon|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 December 2021|access-date=27 January 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60048694|title=Mali 0–0 Equatorial Guinea|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 January 2022|access-date=27 January 2022}}

Personal life

Akapo's younger brother, Javier, is also a defender and an international for Equatorial Guinea.{{cite web|url=https://golsmedia.com/comunidad-valenciana/futbol/2-division/2020/04/30/carlos-javier-akapo-dos-hermanos-defensas-categoria/|title=Carlos y Javier Akapo: Dos hermanos y defensas de categoría|trans-title=Carlos and Javier Akapo: Two brothers and top-flight footballers|publisher=Golsmedia|first=Álvaro|last=Bernabeu|language=es|date=30 April 2020|access-date=14 October 2021}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Huracán \|2011–12 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División B \|3	0	0	0	colspan="2" \|—	3	0
2012–13 \|21	0	0	0	2{{efn\|Appearances in promotion playoffs\|name=pro}}	0	23	0
colspan="2"\|Total !24	0	0	0	2	0	26	0
Numancia \|2013–14 \|Segunda División \|29	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	30	0
rowspan="3"\|Valencia B \|2014–15 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División B \|11	0	colspan="2" \|—	colspan="2" \|—	11	0
2015–16 \|28	0	colspan="2" \|—	colspan="2" \|—	28	0
colspan="2"\|Total !39	0	0	0	0	0	39	0
rowspan="4"\|Huesca \|2016–17 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División \|28	0	3	0	2{{efn\|name=pro}}	0	33	0
2017–18 \|20	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	21	0
2018–19 \|La Liga \|13	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	14	0
colspan="2"\|Total !61	0	5	0	2	0	68	0
rowspan="4"\|Cádiz \|2019–20 \|Segunda División \|7	0	2	0	colspan="2" \|—	9	0
2020–21 \|La Liga \|13	1	3	0	colspan="2" \|—	16	1
2021–22 \|La Liga \|25	0	2	0	1	0	28	0
colspan="2"\|Total !45	1	7	0	1	0	53	1
San Jose Earthquakes \|2023 \|Major League Soccer \|29	2	0	0	2	0	31	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !227	3	13	0	7	0	247	3

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="11"\|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	5	0
2024	10	1
2025	2	0
colspan="2"\|Total	44	2

:Scores and results list Equatorial Guinea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Akapo goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Carlos Akapo
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col" data-sort-type="date"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \| 4 September 2016	rowspan="2"\|Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea	align="center"\|10	{{fb\|South Sudan}}	align="center"\|4–0	align="center"\|4–0	2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification{{cite web\|url=https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=8481\|title=Contundente victoria del Nzalang Nacional frente a Sudán del Sur\|trans-title=Powerful win for Nzalang Nacional against South Sudan\|publisher=Guinea Ecuatorial Press\|language=es\|date=5 September 2016\|access-date=23 July 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722235301/https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=8481\|archive-date=22 July 2020}}
align="center"\|2 \| 9 January 2024	align="center"\|33	{{fb\|Djibouti}}	align="center"\|1–0	align="center"\|1–1	Friendly{{cite web\|url=https://www.feguifut.org/noticia/nzalang-empata-a-1-1-ante-los-ribenos-del-mar-rojo-antes-de-la-can\|title=Nzalang empata a 1–1 ante Los Ribeños del Mar Rojo antes de la CAN.\|trans-title=Nzalang draw 1–1 against Los Ribeños del Mar Rojo before CAN.\|publisher=Equatoguinean Football Federation\|language=es\|date=9 January 2024\|access-date=10 January 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Carlos Akapo

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col" data-sort-type="date"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

| 4 September 2016

rowspan="2"|Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

align="center"|10

align="center"|4–0

2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification{{cite web|url=https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=8481|title=Contundente victoria del Nzalang Nacional frente a Sudán del Sur|trans-title=Powerful win for Nzalang Nacional against South Sudan|publisher=Guinea Ecuatorial Press|language=es|date=5 September 2016|access-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722235301/https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=8481|archive-date=22 July 2020}}

align="center"|2

| 9 January 2024

align="center"|33

align="center"|1–0

align="center"|1–1

Friendly{{cite web|url=https://www.feguifut.org/noticia/nzalang-empata-a-1-1-ante-los-ribenos-del-mar-rojo-antes-de-la-can|title=Nzalang empata a 1–1 ante Los Ribeños del Mar Rojo antes de la CAN.|trans-title=Nzalang draw 1–1 against Los Ribeños del Mar Rojo before CAN.|publisher=Equatoguinean Football Federation|language=es|date=9 January 2024|access-date=10 January 2024}}

References

External links

{{BDFutbol}}
{{Futbolme profile}}
{{NFT player}}
{{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes

| bg = #E32118

| fg = white

| bordercolor = #0073CE

|title = Equatorial Guinea squads

|list1 =

}}

Category:1993 births

Category:Living people

Category:Equatoguinean sportspeople of Spanish descent

Category:Spanish sportspeople of Equatoguinean descent

Category:21st-century Equatoguinean sportsmen

Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen

Category:Equatoguinean men's footballers

Category:Spanish men's footballers

Category:Footballers from Elche

Category:Men's association football fullbacks

Category:La Liga players

Category:Segunda División players

Category:Segunda División B players

Category:Huracán Valencia CF players

Category:CD Numancia players

Category:Valencia CF Mestalla footballers

Category:SD Huesca footballers

Category:Cádiz CF players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:San Jose Earthquakes players

Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players

Category:Amazonas Futebol Clube players

Category:Equatorial Guinea men's international footballers

Category:International sportspeople born abroad

Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:2023 Africa Cup of Nations players

Category:Equatoguinean expatriate men's footballers

Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil

Category:Equatoguinean expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Brazil

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Huracán \|2011–12 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División B \|3	0	0	0	colspan="2" \|—	3	0
2012–13 \|21	0	0	0	2{{efn\|Appearances in promotion playoffs\|name=pro}}	0	23	0
colspan="2"\|Total !24	0	0	0	2	0	26	0
Numancia \|2013–14 \|Segunda División \|29	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	30	0
rowspan="3"\|Valencia B \|2014–15 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División B \|11	0	colspan="2" \|—	colspan="2" \|—	11	0
2015–16 \|28	0	colspan="2" \|—	colspan="2" \|—	28	0
colspan="2"\|Total !39	0	0	0	0	0	39	0
rowspan="4"\|Huesca \|2016–17 \| rowspan="2" \|Segunda División \|28	0	3	0	2{{efn\|name=pro}}	0	33	0
2017–18 \|20	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	21	0
2018–19 \|La Liga \|13	0	1	0	colspan="2" \|—	14	0
colspan="2"\|Total !61	0	5	0	2	0	68	0
rowspan="4"\|Cádiz \|2019–20 \|Segunda División \|7	0	2	0	colspan="2" \|—	9	0
2020–21 \|La Liga \|13	1	3	0	colspan="2" \|—	16	1
2021–22 \|La Liga \|25	0	2	0	1	0	28	0
colspan="2"\|Total !45	1	7	0	1	0	53	1
San Jose Earthquakes \|2023 \|Major League Soccer \|29	2	0	0	2	0	31	2
colspan="3"\|Career total !227	3	13	0	7	0	247	3