| Intro | Nigerian footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | Nigeria |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 20 December 1987, Nigeria |
| Age: | 32 years |
| Star sign | Sagittarius |
Emmanuel Ekpo (born 20 December 1987 in Ekori) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Eastern Suburbs AFC in New Zealand.
Career
Professional
Ekpo spent his early years in the youth system of Calabar Rovers, before going on to play professionally for Akwa United and Enyimba in the Nigerian Premier League.
Ekpo signed a contract with Columbus Crew on 15 April 2008, and scored an impressive first goal for the Crew on 28 June 2008, in a game against Colorado Rapids. He went on to be an invaluable part of the Crew team which won the 2008 MLS Cup, the 2008 MLS Supporters Shield, and the 2009 Supporters shield repeat, featuring in over 80 games in all competitions in his first three seasons with the club.
In December 2011 Ekpo became a free agent when he did not re-sign with the Crew. In February 2012 he signed with Molde of Norway, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, on a three-year contract through 2014.
After two and a half seasons with Molde, Ekpo moved to Haugesund in July 2014, leaving Haugesund after the 2014 season when his contract expired.
In 2016 Ekpo joined Eastern Suburbs AFC in New Zealand.
International
Ekpo participated in African Games qualifying in 2007, took part in CAF Olympic qualifying in 2008, and won a silver medal for participating in the Nigerian national team’s games during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He was a second-half substitute in all six of Nigeria’s games.
On 6 September 2011, Ekpo received his first cap with the senior team. He played 20 minutes in a 3–1 loss to Argentina in a friendly.
Career statistics
- As of 22 July 2013
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| USA | League | Open Cup | North America | Total | ||||||
| 2008 | Columbus Crew | MLS | 20 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | 23 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2010 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 | 1 | |||
| Norway | League | Norwegian Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2012 | Molde | Tippeligaen | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2013 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Haugesund | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | USA | 108 | 5 | 3 | 0 | – | 111 | 5 | ||
| Norway | 41 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 54 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 147 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 163 | 6 | ||
Honors
- Columbus Crew
- Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2008
- Major League Soccer Supporter’s Shield: 2008, 2009
- Molde
- Tippeligaen: 2012
- Norwegian Football Cup: 2013