Emmanuel Apeh

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Manu Apeh

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| full_name = Emmanuel Apeh

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|10|25|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.futmadrid.com/jugador/5736-emmanuel-apeh-manu.html|title=Emmanuel Apeh – Manu|publisher=FutMadrid|language=es|accessdate=17 August 2017}}

| birth_place = Kaduna, Nigeria{{cite web|url=http://owngoalnigeria.com/2017/10/26/little-known-nigerian-forward-emmanuel-apeh-turning-heads-in-spain/|title=Little known Nigerian forward Emmanuel Apeh turning heads in Spain|publisher=Own Goal Nigeria|date=26 October 2017|access-date=18 February 2018}}

| height = 1.80 m

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Al Ittihad

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = SamVic Academy

| years1 = 2015–2016 | clubs1 = Alcalá B | caps1 = 12 | goals1 = 10

| years2 = 2016 | clubs2 = Alcalá | caps2 = 9 | goals2 = 4

| years3 = 2016–2017 | clubs3 = Lorca B | caps3 = 37 | goals3 = 27

| years4 = 2016–2018 | clubs4 = Lorca | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2018–2020 | clubs5 = Celta B | caps5 = 47 | goals5 = 19

| years6 = 2019 | clubs6 = Celta | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2020–2022 | clubs7 = Tenerife | caps7 = 39 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2022 | clubs8 = → Alcorcón (loan) | caps8 = 17 | goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2022–2024 | clubs9 = Sabah | caps9 = 65 | goals9 = 11

| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 26 May 2024

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Emmanuel "Manu" Apeh (born 25 October 1996) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Egyptian Premier League club Al Ittihad.

Club career

Born in Kaduna, Apeh was a SamVic Academy youth graduate,{{cite web|url=http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=12961|title=Inter Milan trialist Apeh Emmanuel hopes to be offered a contract|publisher=All Nigeria Soccer|date=7 September 2014|accessdate=17 August 2017}} and had a failed trial at Inter Milan in August 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=12917|title=Godwin Alex Joseph and Apeh Emmanuel training with Inter Milan|publisher=All Nigeria Soccer|date=31 August 2014|accessdate=17 August 2017}} He made his senior debut with RSD Alcalá's reserve team in 2015, in the regional leagues.

Apeh made his first team debut on 24 March 2016, coming on as a half-time substitute in a 1–5 Tercera División away loss against CD San Fernando de Henares.{{cite web|url=http://www.elgoldemadriz.com/san-fernando-5-1-alcala-manotazo-de-realidades/|title=San Fernando 5–1 Alcalá {{!}} Manotazo de realidades|trans-title=San Fernando 5–1 Alcalá {{!}} Sweep of reality|publisher=El Gol de Madriz|language=es|date=24 March 2016|accessdate=17 August 2017}} Three days later he scored his first goal, netting the last in a 2–0 home win against AD Parla.{{cite web|url=http://www.elgoldemadriz.com/alcala-2-0-parla-manu-y-sergio-resucitadores-rojillos/|title=Alcalá 2–0 Parla {{!}} Manu y Sergio, resucitadores rojillos|trans-title=Alcalá 2–0 Parla {{!}} Manu and Sergio, revivers rojillos|publisher=El Gol de Madriz|language=es|date=27 March 2016|accessdate=17 August 2017}}

In July 2016, after scoring four goals in nine matches, Apeh was definitely promoted to Alcalá's main squad;{{cite web|url=http://www.futmadrid.com/noticia/la-rsd-alcala-ya-trabaja-a-las-ordenes-de-joselu-temporada-2016-slash-17.html|title=La RSD Alcalá ya trabaja a las órdenes de Joselu – Temporada 2016/17|trans-title=RSD Alcalá work at Joselu's orders – 2016/17 season|publisher=FutMadrid|language=es|date=21 July 2016|accessdate=17 August 2017}} however, he subsequently moved to Lorca FC's B-team also in the fourth division. He made his first team debut for the latter on 17 September, replacing Manuel Onwu in a 1–0 away win against Granada CF B in the Segunda División B championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.granadadigital.es/el-lorca-fc-saca-pecho-en-casa-del-granada-b-0-1/|title=El Lorca FC saca pecho en casa del Granada B (0–1)|trans-title=Lorca FC raise the chest at Granada B's home (0–1)|publisher=Granada Digital|language=es|date=17 September 2016|accessdate=17 August 2017}}

In April 2017, ahead of a match against Linares Deportivo, Apeh opted not to tell his father's death to his club, and still travelled and played with the senior and the reserve squads.{{cite web|url=http://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2017/04/24/apeh-oculta-padre-fallecido-jugar/823726.html|title=Apeh oculta que su padre ha fallecido para jugar con el Lorca|trans-title=Apeh hinders that his father died to play for Lorca|publisher=La Opinión de Murcia|language=es|date=24 April 2017|accessdate=17 August 2017}} In August, after his team's promotion to Segunda División, he was definitely promoted to the main squad by new manager Curro Torres.{{cite web|url=http://www.laopiniondemurcia.es/deportes/2017/08/07/manu-apeh-convence-curo-torres/850828.html|title=Manu Apeh convence a Curro Torres|trans-title=Manu Apeh convinces Curro Torres|publisher=La Opinión de Murcia|language=es|date=6 August 2017|accessdate=17 August 2017}}

Apeh made his professional debut on 18 August 2017, coming on as a late substitute for Manel Martínez in a 2–0 home win against Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa; he also provided the assist for Carlos Martínez's last goal.{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/segunda-division/2017/08/18/59972ba046163f5d578b45a2.html|title=El Lorca aterriza a lo grande en Segunda|trans-title=Lorca land through the big door in Segunda|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=18 August 2017|accessdate=18 August 2017}} He scored his first professional goal on 21 October, netting his team's second in a 2–2 home draw against CD Tenerife.

On 11 July 2018, Apeh joined Celta de Vigo B in the third division.{{cite web|url=http://www.rccelta.es/index.php/es/emmanuel-apeh-fortaleza-fisica-juego-aereo-y-remate-para-el-ataque-del-celta-b|title=Emmanuel Apeh: fortaleza física, juego aéreo y remate para el ataque del Celta B|trans-title=Emmanuel Apeh: physical strength, set pieces and shooting for the attack of Celta B|publisher=Celta de Vigo|language=es|date=11 July 2018|access-date=20 July 2018}} He made his first team – and La Liga – debut the following 27 January, replacing Jozabed in a 1–2 away loss against Real Valladolid.

On 5 August 2020, Apeh agreed to a three-year deal with CD Tenerife in the second level.{{cite web|url=https://www.clubdeportivotenerife.es/noticia/emmanuel-apeh-primer-fichaje-2021|title=Emmanuel Apeh, primer fichaje 20/21|trans-title=Emmanuel Apeh, first 20/21 signing|publisher=CD Tenerife|language=es|date=5 August 2020|accessdate=6 August 2020}} On 26 January 2022, after being rarely used during the first half of the campaign, he moved on loan to fellow league team AD Alcorcón until June.{{cite web|url=https://www.clubdeportivotenerife.es/noticia/emmanuel-apeh-cedido-a-la-ad-alcorcon|title=Emmanuel Apeh, cedido a la AD Alcorcón|trans-title=Emmanuel Apeh, loaned to AD Alcorcón|publisher=CD Tenerife|language=es|date=26 January 2022|accessdate=26 January 2022}}

On 18 July 2022, Sabah announced the signing of Apeh to a two-year contract.{{cite web |title=XOŞ GƏLDİN, EMMANUEL APEH! |url=https://sabahfc.az/2022/07/18/xos-g%c9%99ldin-emmanuel-apeh/ |website=sabahfc.az |publisher=Sabah FC |access-date=19 July 2022 |language=Azerbaijani |date=18 July 2022}}