Karl Toko-Ekambi: 10 Fascinating Facts To Know About The Footballer

Karl Toko-Ekambi is a professional football player who plays the ‘forward’ position while wearing the number 7/21 jersey. He is associated with both Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais better known as Lyon.

Additionally, Karl plays for his home country in the Cameroon National team. He started his football playing career with Paris Football Club in the Championnat National and then gradually moved up to their team B side.

However, as of 2022, the Cameroonian is with Lyon and has been eyed by a host of other football clubs in Europe.

Here Are Facts About The Cameroon Football Player

1. Toko-Ekambi May Be From Cameroon But He Was Born In Paris

Karl Toko-Ekambi is a Cameroonian player who was born on the 14th of September 1992. He was born Karl Brilliant Toko-Ekambi to the family of Mr. Toko-Ekambi Jean Valentine and his wife.

Although his nationality is Cameroon, the athlete was born and raised in Paris, France. That was where he got his basic education up to the point where his career kicked off. Similarly, Toko-Ekambi started playing professional football in Paris.

2. He Has Been Linked With At Least 5 Clubs

From the beginning of his career to date, the Cameroonian player has been linked with at least 5 clubs. He first started with the Paris FC in 2010 as a youth and remained there till 2014.

While with the club, Karl moved to the club’s Team B side in 2012, and that is where he made the move to Sochaux from. At Sochaux, he made 72 appearances and scored 25 goals. However, he only spent 2 years there as he moved to Angers SCO by 2016.

Toko-Ekambi moved to Villarreal from Angers in June of 2018 for an estimated amount of 20 million Euros. His move to the Spanish club located in Villarreal was as a replacement for Cedric Bakambu who moved to the Chinese Super League.

By January of 2021, the Villarreal forward returned back to Ligue 1. He was sold on a loan to Olympique Lyonnais and would be there till the end of the season.

3. The Cameroonian’s Move To Lyon Came With A Clause

Though initially sold on loan to Lyon, with an impressive stint to his name, the team decided to make his move permanent. Karl was then offered a four-year contract of 11.5 million Euros by the 7-times French champions. In addition to this offer, his contract also included an additional 4 million Euros in incentives. There was also a clause that stated a 15 percent on possible transfer which could rise to 50 percent if the player’s transfer happens before the 15th of September 2020.

4. Karl Began His International Career In 2015

Despite playing professionally since 2010, it wasn’t until 2015 that he joined his home country’s team. Karl Toko-Ekambi made his international debut for Cameroon on the 6th of June 2015. However, it wasn’t until the next year that he was able to net a goal for the Cameroon team.

Since 2015, Karl had been featured in the team for the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia as well as the 2019 Afcon in Egypt.

5. The Loss Of His Dad Devastated Him

Brilliant lost his dad, Mr. Jean Valentine Toko-Ekambi in the early hours of 18th January 2021. He died in a Medical Airbus which Karl made available to transfer him abroad for treatment. Unfortunately, the older Toko-Ekambi did not make it through.

This loss devastated the Cameroonian player who started his new year on a rough note as a result. Prior to his death, Mr. Jean Valentine was his son’s representative in transfer deals.

6. Karl Toko-Ekambi Tested Positive To Coronavirus

Prior to the loss of his dad, the Lyon forward had tested positive for the Coronavirus in 2021. News began to make waves about this on the 4th of January 2021. This was barely two weeks before his father’s death.

However, despite being the club’s top goal scorer, he missed the January 5th match against Lens. This is because he had to be in isolation until his full recovery before being allowed to partake in any game.

7. He Has Been Named Amongst ‘Player To Look Out For’ During The Afcon 2021

 

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Karl Toko-Ekambi has been named as one among about 5 African players to keep an eye on. The Cameroonian has caught the attention of so many people with his impressive skills and abilities.

The 31 year-old has been named alongside players such as; Guinea’s Mohamed Bayo, Senegal’s Pape Sarr, Ghana’s Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Sofiane Boufal of Morocco. Although there are other big names in the tournament like Mohammed Salah of Egypt and Senegalese player, Sadio Mane, these five men have proven to be almost as good.

8. Karl Toko-Ekembi Is The First Cameroonian To Win The Marc-Vivien Foe Award

Lyon and Cameroonian player, Karl won the 2018 Marc-Vivien Foe award. The award was named after a fellow Cameroonian professional football player who died in 2003 while playing for Cameroon. Foe died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the Stade de Gerland, Lyon while playing at the Fifa Confederations Cup.

However, Karl was the first Cameroon player to win the award since its inception. Other winners of the award are Andrew Ayew of Ghana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon, and Jean Michel Seri of Ivory Coast.

Karl won this award after collecting 264 points in votes beating runner-up Wahbi Khazari who had 135 points.

READ ALSO: Youssef En-Nesyri 10 Interesting Facts About The Moroccan Football Star

9. He Once Captained His National Team

The forward was called upon in the 2019 Afcon tournament to captain his national team side. This was as a result of the head coach, Clarence Seedorf’s tradition of rotating the armband. Karl captained the team during their clash with Morocco. However, this isn’t the only time he has been made to wear the captain’s armband. He was named captain in a game against his former club Villarreal which ended at 2-2.

10. Some Of The Lyon’s Forward’s Honors And Titles

Karl Toko-Ekambi has been, for his stellar performances over the years, showered with praises. Being referred to as ‘the prototype of the modern striker’ by Rudi Garcia, he steady proves that.

Here are some of the striker’s notable wins in titles and awards.

• 2017 African Cup of Nations – As a team member of his national team, Cameroon.
• 2014-2015 Ligue 2 Team of the Year – As an individual.
• October 2019 La Liga Player of the Month – As an individual.
• 2018 Prix Marc-Vivien Foe – As an Individual.

Complete profile of Karl Toko-Ekambi