Joshua Akpudje has had a nomadic career, after breaking into the first team at Nigeria Professional Football League side, MFM FC, he always had his sights set on a bigger stage.
The burly centre-back impressed during his time with the Olukoya Boys and soon enough, he was making his first venture into European football. In an exclusive chat with the FootballCastle, Akpudje lifts the lid on his football journey so far.
This interview started off with the topic of his impressive physical attributes. How was he able to build such a massive physique?
JA: “It’s just natural. I just think I picked it up from my dad, and I keep working on myself so nothing special.”
Akpudje then goes on to the story of how he started his football career before joining MFM ahead of the abridged season in 2019.
JA: “My journey has been quite rough and quite smooth, you know. I give thanks to God. I started playing my football back then in secondary school.
“I grew up in a small environment called Iyana Oworo in Lagos, you know, and it’s the kind of environment where the future is not promised. You have to pick out your own future yourself and be your own self.”
“So at the age of 16, I left my family for my first trial in Europe. I went to Slovenia but I didn’t pass the trial then went back to Nigeria. “ In 2017, I went to Hadjuk Split in Croatia and I didn’t pass the trial again. That was a crazy time because that was the only way I could bring my family out of poverty, you know?”
“Before then I used to hawk in the traffic light at Maryland then, some sachet water or oranges on the street. And then my agent said to me, he thinks I need to stay back in Nigeria to learn how to be a better player. Then I got signed by MFM in the NPFL where I played for one season before getting a call-up to the national U-23 team. So far it has not been easy, but I will give thanks to God.”
Akpudje further tells us about his experience at MFM and how it prepared him for his professional career.
JA: “MFM made me who I am today. I would say for every young player who was in MFM, it only takes you just a couple of years if you know what you want and why you are going there. So being in MFM then under Fidelis Ilechukwu, the best coach I think I ever played under, really helped me.”
“I played a game against Remo Stars which we won and that was when I got the call up to the national team and when I got back, I scored two or three goals in the league which brought me attention. So I think being with top players at MFM helped and I give all credit to coach Fidelis.”
We asked the 26-year-old what it felt like to fail trials four times in Europe before finally getting his big break.
JA: “In Nigeria when you go to Europe and you come back, they start saying all sorts of things about you but for me, those moments built me more to understand that nobody owes you anything. You have to keep pushing and keep being yourself.”
“Trialling and failing four times in Europe is not easy, but I will give thanks to my God and give thanks to my mom. They kept pushing me and supporting me, and I think those moments changed me to be able to adapt and take everything that comes my way.”
By March 2020, Akpudje earned his coveted move as he completed a transfer to Latvian club BFC Daugavpils. After playing for two seasons in Latvia, the defender moved to Lithuanian side, FK Panevezys on loan before finally settling at Jablonec in the Czech Republic.
Akpudje ended his spell after one full season and in February 2024 he signed a two-year contract with Dinamo Tbilisi. That time in Georgia was a keen learning curve as he spent time at the same club that produced a lot of Georgia international players including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giorgi Mamardashvili.
During the summer transfer window, the well-travelled player was making his latest move to Finland where he signed with Ilves who were halfway into their Veikkausliiga season. He was brought in amidst long-term injuries to Samba Benga and Felipe Aspegren, and talked about the challenges of joining an already settled team as they aim to win the top-flight title.
JA: “At Ilves, we are in good shape and looking to be league champions as there are five games left and we will see what’s going to happen.”
Our conversation moved to national team matters, Akpudje’s only experience in international football was with the Nigeria U23 side where he featured against Libya in an Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification game in March 2019. Pertinently, he featured alongside Super Eagles stalwarts like Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi, whom he would hope to play with again.
JA: “I think every football player, regardless of where you’re playing, cannot say you want to be in a bigger team because someone else is playing in a bigger team. You just have to appreciate and be grateful for where you are, and I’m doing quite good where I am today so if I keep working at it, someday we’re going to play together again.”
Akpudje will be secretly hoping that is with the national team, where NPFL products like Olisa Ndah and Benjamin Tanimu recently broke into the centre-back department thanks to their exploits in the Nigerian league. We asked the central defender about his Super Eagles aspirations.
JA: “Like I said, I just wait for the moment. If it’s going to come, it’s going to surely come so you just have to keep working hard and be grateful for where you are, and expect anything can come up at any time.”
Watching clips of Akpudje play, It is easy to notice he is very comfortable passing the ball out with both feet – a key attribute in his position – and we asked if that trait was in-built or something he worked hard on.
JA: “I was only good with my right foot growing up, but I had a grassroots coach who forced me to play more with my left foot. Today, even in training, when I put the ball to my left foot, I can shoot. So I am thankful to God that I listened to him and learned, which helped me a lot.”
Moving on to the topic of role models, Akpudje was inspired by a surprising name in Kenneth Omeruo (affectionately known as Uncle K within the Super Eagles squad) who he has always kept a close eye on.
JA: “Uncle K is quite a good guy and nice guy and I’m glad to always have contact with him, we speak once in a while on the phone. When I was growing up, I watched him play then in the World Cup and I saw him as someone who is just like me.
“He always fights his way out to be the best, which is something I love about him, he’s also a hard-working person.”
Another Nigerian, Adeleke Akinola Akinyemi joined Akpudje at Ilves before the close of the summer transfer window and the forward scored on his debut against IF Gnistan.
JA: “When I saw in the group chat that we’re going to welcome a Nigerian guy, I said, oh, my bro is here. I feel good and happy for him, he scored a goal in his debut game and for me, we keep playing in the name of the country and we’ll keep working hard.”
Speaking with the central defender, it is easy to see how far perseverance, hard work and sacrifice has brought him, and there is no limit to where it would take him in the following years.
Watch the full interview below:
