Kanga Akalé Explained

Kanga Akalé
Full Name:Kanga Gauthier Akalé[1]
Birth Date:7 March 1981
Birth Place:Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height:1.78 m
Position:Central midfielder
Years1:1997–1998
Clubs1:Stella Club
Caps1:17
Goals1:6
Years2:1998–1999
Clubs2:Sion
Caps2:25
Goals2:6
Years3:1999–2003
Clubs3:FC Zürich
Caps3:68
Goals3:8
Years4:2003–2007
Clubs4:Auxerre
Caps4:126
Goals4:20
Years5:2007–2011
Clubs5:Lens
Caps5:67
Goals5:5
Years6:2007–2008
Clubs6:Marseille (loan)
Caps6:19
Goals6:1
Years7:2008–2009
Clubs7:Recreativo Huelva (loan)
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Years8:2011–2012
Clubs8:Lekhwiya
Caps8:2
Goals8:0
Years9:2012
Clubs9:Panetolikos
Caps9:9
Goals9:0
Years10:2012–2013
Clubs10:Arles-Avignon
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:363
Totalgoals:46
Nationalyears1:2003–2010
Nationalteam1:Ivory Coast
Nationalcaps1:35
Nationalgoals1:3

Kanga Gauthier Akalé (born 7 March 1981) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Whilst at Auxerre he helped them win the Coupe de France in both 2003 and 2005, playing in both finals.[2] [3] In June 2007, Akalé signed a four-year contract with RC Lens for an undisclosed transfer fee, and he was loaned to Marseille in January 2008, then Recreativo de Huelva. Originally a striker, he started playing as a central midfielder or left winger. He is described as a pacey player with top technical abilities.

In 2011, Akalé joined Qatari club Lekhwiya SC to cover for injured striker, and countryman Bakari Koné. He made his debut in the 2011 Qatari Stars Cup on 11 November, and scored a hat-trick against Al Rayyan in a 3–1 win.[4]

On 31 January 2012, Akalé signed a six-month contract with Greek club Panetolikos F.C.[5] About three months after becoming a free agent, on 24 October 2012, Akalé joined French Ligue 2 side Arles-Avignon on a two-year contract.[6]

International career

He has 35 caps for the national team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup.

Personal life

Akalé holds both Ivorian and French nationalities.[7] His son Aaron is a youth international for France.[8] [9]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stella Club1998Ligue 1 (Ivory Coast)176176
Sion1998–99Nationalliga A256256
FC Zürich1999–2000Nationalliga A602080[10]
2000–0116210172
2001–0228100281
2002–0318574259
Total68800001047812
Auxerre2002–03Ligue 160300010100
2003–04234103040314
2004–053136130111515
2005–06314002020354
2006–073591020614410
Total1262011110024217123
Lens2007–08Ligue 190000063153
2009–10282502000352
2010–11303001000313
Total675503063818
Marseille (loan)2007–08Ligue 1191201000221
Recreativo de Huelva (loan)2008–09La Liga2602100281
Lekhwiya2011–12Qatar Stars League2020
Panetolikos2011–12Super League Greece9090
Arles-Avignon2012–13Ligue 240200060
Career total3634622214040943957

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ivory Coast200210
200350
200430
200541
2006122
200720
200880
Total353

Scores and results list the Ivory Coast's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Akalé goal.

List of international goals scored by Kanga Akalé
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
4 June 2006 Bondoufle, France 3–0 Friendly
14 June 2008 Gaborone, Botswana 1–1 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Honors

Ivory Coast

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players . FIFA . 6 . 21 March 2014 . 6 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. Web site: PSG-Auxerre, c'était déjà il y a 12 ans . europe1.fr . 8 September 2019.
  3. Web site: Auxerre pakt Franse beker . voetbalkrant.com . 8 September 2019.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20111115140349/http://www.al3nabi.com/news-4-36273.html بدلا من بكارى: لخويا يضم العاجى كانجا أكالى
  5. Web site: Υπέγραψε ο Ακαλέ . 31 January 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120202202209/http://www.panetolikos.gr/archives/news/item/2415-ypegrapse-akale.html . 2 February 2012 .
  6. http://www.arlesavignon.net/saison/infos/fil-info/560-kanga-akale-pour-deux-ans.html Kanga Akalé pour 2 ans!
  7. Web site: Kanga Akalé . 21 December 2023 . Ligue1 . fr-FR.
  8. Web site: ami-sportif.com . 30 January 2023 . Football : Aaron Akalé, fils d’Akalé Kanga, signe ses débuts en pro – ami-sportif.com . 21 December 2023 . fr-FR.
  9. Web site: Aaron Akalé . 21 December 2023 . www.fff.fr.
  10. Web site: Kanga Akalé » Club matches . worldfootball.net . 6 June 2019.
  11. Web site: African Nations Cup 2006.