Karl Toko Ekambi
Toko Ekambi with Cameroon at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Personal information
Full name Karl Louis Brillant Toko Ekambi[1]
Date of birth (1992-09-14) 14 September 1992
Place of birth Paris, France[2]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Abha
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2010 Paris FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2014 Paris FC 67 (21)
2012–2013 Paris FC B 6 (1)
2014–2016 Sochaux 72 (25)
2016–2018 Angers 68 (24)
2018–2020 Villarreal 52 (16)
2020 → Lyon (loan) 8 (2)
2020–2023 Lyon 84 (30)
2023 → Rennes (loan) 17 (3)
2023– Abha 13 (5)
International career‡
2015– Cameroon 55 (13)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Cameroon
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner2017
Third place2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:18, 15 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:06, 10 June 2023 (UTC)

Karl Louis Brillant Toko Ekambi (born 14 September 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Abha and the Cameroon national team.

Toko Ekambi began his career with Paris FC in the Championnat National and Sochaux in Ligue 2 before joining Angers in Ligue 1. After 18 months at Villarreal in Spain's La Liga, he returned to France's top flight with Lyon.

Born and raised in France, Toko Ekambi represents Cameroon internationally. He made his international debut for Cameroon in 2015. He represented the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019 and 2021, winning the 2017 tournament. He also played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Sochaux

Born in Paris, Toko Ekambi began his career at Paris FC in the third-tier Championnat National. In June 2014, having been third-top scorer with 13 goals, he transferred to Sochaux.[4] He made his Ligue 2 debut on the opening day of the 2014–15 season against Orléans, as a 57th-minute substitute for Thomas Guerbert in a 1–0 home loss.[5] He ended his first season as joint-fourth top scorer with 14 goals.[6]

Angers

In June 2016, Toko Ekambi joined Angers for €1 million, on a four-year deal.[7] He scored seven times in his first Ligue 1 season, including two in a 3–0 home win over Bastia on 26 February.[8]

In August 2017, Brighton & Hove Albion, newly promoted to the Premier League, reportedly made a bid for him, offering €8 million plus €1 million in possible bonuses to Angers.[9] He began that season in good form, scoring nine goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances in the first half of the season, attracting interest from England for his services in the January transfer window.[10]

In January 2018 Brighton were again reported to have made a bid for him, which was rejected by Angers.[11][12] On 24 February, Toko Ekambi scored two-second-half goals, including the winner in the 89th minute, to help Angers move out of the relegation zone in a 2–1 away win over fellow strugglers Lille.[13] He finished the 2017–18 Ligue 1 season with 17 goals, ninth in the league's top scorers.[14] He won the Prix Marc-Vivien Foé for best African in the league. He was the first Cameroonian to win the award named after Marc-Vivien Foé, who died playing for the country in 2003.[15]

On 25 April 2017, late substitute Toko Ekambi scored in a 2–0 home win over Guingamp in the Coupe de France semi-final.[16] In Angers' first final since 1957 on 27 May, he played the entirety of a 1–0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).[17]

Villarreal

Toko Ekambi playing for Villarreal in 2018

In June 2018, Toko Ekambi signed with Villarreal in Spain's La Liga, for an estimated €20 million. He was signed to replace Cédric Bakambu, who had left for the Chinese Super League in January.[18] He scored ten goals in his first league season, including two in a 3–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano on 17 March.[19]

With five goals each, Toko Ekambi and Getafe's Ángel were top scorers of the 2018–19 Copa del Rey.[20] This included four in an 8–0 (11–3 aggregate) home win over Almería in the last 32 second leg,[21] followed by a goal in the next stage against Espanyol, who eliminated his team.[22]

Toko Ekambi was the La Liga Player of the Month for October 2019, with three goals including two in a 4–1 win over Alavés on 25 October.[23]

Lyon

On 20 January 2020, Toko Ekambi went back to Ligue 1, on loan to Lyon for the remainder of the season.[24] On 2 June, he moved on a permanent transfer with a four-year contract, for a fee of €11.5 million.[25] He played in the 2020 Coupe de la Ligue Final on 31 July, the last game in the competition's history. On as an 80th-minute substitute for Memphis Depay, he scored in the penalty shootout after a goalless draw, but his team lost to PSG.[26]

With 14 goals in 2020–21, Toko Ekambi was once again joint ninth top scorer in Ligue 1.[27] The following season, he finished joint tenth with 12 goals.[28]

Loan to Rennes

On 26 January 2023, fellow Ligue 1 club Rennes announced the signing of Toko Ekambi on loan from Lyon for the remainder of the season. The fee was €1.5 million, with a further €1 million depending on performances.[29] He scored his first goal for the club on 19 March to open a 2–0 win at PSG, ending a 35-game unbeaten home run for the hosts dating back nearly two years.[30]

Abha

On 24 August 2023, Toko Ekambi joined Saudi Pro League club Abha on a two-year deal.[31]

International career

Toko Ekambi playing against Comoros in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Toko Ekambi made his debut for Cameroon on 6 June 2015 in a 3–2 friendly win over Burkina Faso in Colombes, France, as a 66th-minute substitute for Justin Mengolo.[32] He scored his first goal on 3 September the following year in a 2–0 home win over the Gambia in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.[33] Manager Hugo Broos called him up for the final tournament in Gabon, which the team won.[34]

On 28 March 2017, Toko Ekambi scored and was sent off in a 2–1 friendly loss to Guinea in Brussels.[35] In June, Broos selected him for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.[36] He also went to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.[37]

At the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil at the start of the following year, Toko Ekambi scored twice in a 4–1 group win over Ethiopia,[38] and the opening goal of a 2–1 win against Comoros in the last 16.[39] On 29 January, he scored both goals against the Gambia in the quarter-finals.[40] On 29 March 2022, he scored a goal in the fourth minute of time added on at the end of extra time against Algeria to send Cameroon to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[41] At the finals in Qatar, he started the first two games and was a substitute in the 1–0 win over Brazil, as the team exited in the group stage.[42][43][44]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 December 2023[2][45]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Paris FC 2010–11 Championnat National 200000—20
2011–12 2531000—263
2012–13 1440000—144
2013–14 26140000—2614
Total 67211000—6821
Sochaux 2014–15 Ligue 2 38141010—4014
2015–16 34116120—4112
Total 72257130—8226
Angers 2016–17 Ligue 1 3172100—338
2017–18 37171010—3917
Total 68243110—7225
Villarreal 2018–19 La Liga 341025—7[lower-alpha 2]34318
2019–20 18610——196
Total 521635—736224
Lyon (loan) 2019–20 Ligue 1 8230104[lower-alpha 3]0162
Lyon 2020–21 351440——3914
2021–22 301200—10[lower-alpha 2]64018
2022–23 19400——194
Total 9232701014611438
Rennes (loan) 2022–23 Ligue 1 173——2[lower-alpha 2]2195
Abha 2023–24 Saudi Pro League 12532——157
Career total 381126249502311433146

International

Toko Ekambi at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
As of match played 10 June 2023[46]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Cameroon 201530
201641
2017101
201850
201981
202030
202172
2022147
202311
Total5513
As of match played 10 June 2023
Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Toko Ekambi goal.[46]
List of international goals scored by Karl Toko Ekambi
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
13 September 2016Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon Gambia2–02–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
228 March 2017Edmond Machtens Stadium, Brussels, Belgium Guinea1–11–2Friendly
314 June 2019Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar Mali1–11–1
48 October 2021Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon Mozambique3–03–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
516 November 2021 Ivory Coast1–01–0
613 January 2022Olembe Stadium, Yaoundé, Cameroon Ethiopia1–14–12021 Africa Cup of Nations
74–1
824 January 2022 Comoros1–02–12021 Africa Cup of Nations
929 January 2022Japoma Stadium, Douala, Cameroon Gambia1–02–0
102–0
1129 March 2022Mustapha Tchaker Stadium, Blida, Algeria Algeria2–12–1 (a.e.t.)2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
129 June 2022National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Burundi1–01–02023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1310 June 2023Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, United States Mexico2–12–2Friendly

Honours

Lyon

Cameroon

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "KTE". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
    "Karl Toko Ekambi". Verif.com (in French). Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Karl Toko Ekambi". L'Équipe (in French). Paris. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  3. ↑ "Karl Toko Ekambi" (in French). Stade Rennais F.C. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Karl Toko Ekambi agrees personal terms with Sochaux". Get Football News France. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "FC Sochaux vs. Orléans – 2 August 2014 – Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sans doute la fin d'un cycle" [Without doubt the end of an era]. Paris Normandie (in French). 21 May 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Karl Toko-Ekambi to Angers". Get French Football News. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  8. ↑ Mazibuko, Sandile (26 February 2017). "Toko Ekambi bags brace in Angers win". Goal. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Offre de Brighton pour Toko Ekambi (Angers)" [Offer from Brighton for Toko Ekambi (Angers)]. France Football (in French). 31 August 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Andy Naylor (5 January 2018). "Brighton and Hove Albion interested in Cameroon marksman Ekambi". The Argus.
  11. ↑ "Mercato : Angers dit non à Brighton pour Toko Ekambi" [Transfer market: Angers say no to Brighton for Toko Ekambi]. France Football (in French). 5 January 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  12. ↑ Andy Naylor (7 January 2018). "Albion expected to up interest in striker Ekambi". The Argus.
  13. ↑ "Angers and Toko-Ekambi leave Lille in trouble". ligue1.com. 24 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Season Review: Not Only Neymar! The Unsung Heroes..." ligue1.com. Ligue de Football Professionnel. 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 "Cameroon's Toko Ekambi wins Foe prize". BBC. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "Angers beat Guingamp to reach French Cup final". Reuters. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  17. ↑ Whalley, Mike (27 May 2017). "Angers 0–1 Paris Saint Germain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  18. ↑ Jariego, Adrià (7 June 2018). "Oficial: el Villarreal ficha al delantero franco- camerunés Toko Ekambi" [Official: Villarreal sign the Franco-Cameroonian striker Toko Ekambi]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Adewoye, Gbenga (17 March 2019). "Karl Toko Ekambi nets brace as Villarreal ease past Rayo Vallecano". Goal. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  20. ↑ "Ni Messi ni Luis Suárez: Ángel es el Pichichi de la Copa del Rey 2018-19" [Neither Messi nor Luis Suárez: Ángel is the top scorer of the 2018-19 Copa del Rey] (in Spanish). Goal. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "Ekambi gets four of Villarreal's eight against Almeria". 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  22. ↑ McTear, Euan (9 January 2019). "Villarreal keep the tie alive with two late goals". Marca. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Toko Ekambi named LaLiga Santander Player of the Month for October". La Liga. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Cameroonian striker Toko Ekambi joins Lyon on loan from Villarreal". Orange Football Club. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "Toko Ekambi: Lyon sign Cameroon forward permanently from Villarreal". Goal. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  26. ↑ Clancy, Conor (1 August 2020). "Paris Saint-Germain take last ever Coupe de la Ligue title on penalties". Marca. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "Ligue 1 Top Scorers". Reuters. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  28. ↑ Cox, Gareth (25 May 2022). "Mbappe, Payet, Messi: Ligue 1 top scorers and most assists 2021/22 - in pictures". The National. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "Mercato: les chiffres officiels du prêt payant de Toko Ekambi à Rennes" [Transfer market: the official figures of the paid loan of Toko Ekambi to Rennes] (in French). BFM TV. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  30. ↑ "Paris Saint Germain 0–2 Rennes". BBC Sport. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  31. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Saudi club Abha sign Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi". KingFut. 25 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Première sélection internationale pour le Sochalien Toko Ekambi" [First international cap for Sochaux's Toko Ekambi]. L'Est Républicain (in French). 7 June 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  33. ↑ "Comfortable win for Cameroon". Super Sport. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  34. ↑ "Cameroon names AFCON 2017 squad despite player pullout crisis". Africa News. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  35. ↑ "Broos et le Cameroun battus par la Guinée à Bruxelles" [Broos and Cameroon beaten by Guinea in Brussels] (in French). RTBF. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  36. ↑ Mazibuko, Sandile (18 May 2017). "Christian Bassogog tops Cameroon Confederation Cup squad". Goal. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  37. ↑ Gibbons, Mike (25 June 2019). "Africa Cup of Nations 2019: Cameroon put marker down in Group F". Eurosport. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  38. ↑ "Aboubakar at double again as Cameroon rout Ethiopia to reach Afcon last 16". The Guardian. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  39. ↑ "Afcon: Cameroon edge past plucky 10-man Comoros as Gambia run goes on". The Guardian. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  40. ↑ Ouzia, Malik (29 January 2021). "Gambia 0-2 Cameroon: Karl Toko Ekambi double sends hosts into AFCON semi-finals". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  41. ↑ "Three African coaches bring instant World Cup joy". France 24. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  42. ↑ Bradshaw, Joe (24 November 2022). "Switzerland 1–0 Cameroon". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  43. ↑ Gault, Matt (28 November 2022). "Cameroon 3–3 Serbia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  44. ↑ McNulty, Phil (2 December 2022). "Cameroon 1–0 Brazil". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  45. ↑ "K. Toko Ekambi". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  46. 1 2 Karl Toko Ekambi at National-Football-Teams.com
  47. ↑ "Paris St-Germain beat Lyon in French League Cup final for another treble". BBC Sport. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  48. ↑ AfricaNews (6 February 2022). "Cameroon beats Burkina Faso to end AFCON 2021 in third place". Africanews. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  49. ↑ "Palmarès". Trophées UNFP du Football (in French). Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  50. ↑ "Prix Marc-Vivien Foé: Karl Toko Ekambi premier lauréat camerounais" (in French). Afrique Foot. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
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