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Achille Emaná

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Achille Emaná Edzimbi (born 5 June 1982), known as Emaná, is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Achille Emaná
Emaná playing for Cameroon in 2009
Personal information
Full name Achille Emaná Edzimbi
Date of birth (1982-06-05) 5 June 1982 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Yaoundé, Cameroon[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1997–1999 Babimbi Douala
1999–2000 Valencia
2000–2001 Toulouse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2008 Toulouse 231 (28)
2008–2011 Betis 91 (34)
2011–2012 Al-Hilal 11 (4)
2012 → Al-Ahli (loan) 11 (2)
2012–2013 Al-Ahli 12 (4)
2013 → Al Wasl (loan) 11 (3)
2013–2015 Cruz Azul 15 (1)
2015 → Atlante (loan) 9 (0)
2015–2016 Gimnàstic 39 (9)
2016 Tokushima Vortis 0 (0)
2017 Gimnàstic 16 (4)
2017–2018 Mumbai City 18 (3)
2018–2019 Gerena 0 (0)
2019 Badalona 0 (0)
2019–2020 SS Reyes 12 (1)
2020 Jaén 0 (0)
Total 476 (93)
International career
2003–2013 Cameroon 42 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his professional career with Toulouse in France and Betis in Spain, playing his later years in Arab countries, Mexico, Japan and India, as well as two spells at Gimnàstic.

Emaná appeared 42 times for Cameroon, representing the country in the 2010 World Cup and three African Cup of Nations tournaments.

Club career

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Toulouse

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Emaná was born in Yaoundé. After a brief youth spell in Spain with Valencia CF, he moved in 2000 to France and joined Toulouse FC. The following year, at only 19, he became an important first team unit for the Ligue 2 club, never playing in less than 32 games in his first four seasons and helping the Haute-Garonne team to achieve promotion to Ligue 1 in his second year.

In 2005, following Michael Essien's departure to Chelsea, Emaná reportedly attracted interest from French giants Olympique Lyonnais who were looking to replace the Ghanaian,[2] with fellow ligue side Olympique de Marseille also joining the race.[3] The player stayed nonetheless at Toulouse, scoring eight times in 36 matches as the club finished a best-ever third in the first division, thus achieving UEFA Champions League qualification honours.

Emaná was strongly linked with Premier League club Portsmouth in the following off-season, where he would have joined a large contingent of African players. His chances of a move were quashed, however, when he was unable to obtain a work permit,[4][5][6] and he subsequently signed a new two-year contract with Toulouse until 2010.[7]

In spring 2008, it was reported that England's West Ham United and Newcastle United were interested in acquiring Emaná's services,[8] with La Liga side Sevilla FC also said to be tracking him.[9] Eventually, nothing came of it again, and he saw out the entire season with the French, who finished in 17th position, being the first team placed outside the relegation zone.

Betis

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On 11 June 2008, it was reported that Real Betis were negotiating with Toulouse for Emaná's transfer. The player was quoted as being keen to secure a move to Spain to further his career, even though his current club had apparently already rejected two bids for his signature.[10] On 22 July, he finally completed his move to the Andalusians for a fee of £5.5 million.[11]

Emaná scored his first goal for Betis on 19 October 2008, in a 3–0 home win over RCD Mallorca.[12] In mid-April 2009, he added braces against Racing de Santander (3–2 away win)[13] and Sporting de Gijón (2–0 at home),[14] finishing his first season with 11 goals – squad-best – and seven assists, but his team were relegated in the last matchday.[15]

In spite of heavy speculation about his future,[16] Emaná continued to be an essential unit in the following Segunda División seasons. The attacking trio of himself and strikers Rubén Castro and Jorge Molina combined for more than 50 league goals in 2010–11, as the club returned to the top division after two years of absence.[17]

Later years

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On 11 August 2011, Emaná moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal SFC in a deal worth US$6 million.[18] In January of the following year he was loaned to United Arab Emirates' Shabab Al Ahli Club until June, and the move was made permanent on 27 July.[19]

On 22 January 2013, Emaná was loaned to fellow league team Al-Wasl F.C. until the end of the season, mainly as a replacement to long-term injured Mariano Donda.[20] On 27 August, after his loan expired, he agreed to a permanent deal with Cruz Azul from Mexico.[21]

Emaná signed with Atlante F.C. on 17 December 2014 on loan until June,[22] after being transfer listed by his parent club back in June.[23] On 24 July 2015, already as a free agent, he joined Gimnàstic de Tarragona initially on trial,[24] and subsequently penned a one-year contract.[25]

On 20 July 2016, Emaná switched teams and countries again, joining Tokushima Vortis.[26] After making no appearances for the J2 League side, he returned to Nàstic on 12 December.[27]

In August 2017, the 35-year-old Emaná signed with Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC for the 2017–18 season.[28] In October 2018, he returned to Spain and joined CD Gerena of the Tercera División,[29] and the following January moved to Segunda División B with CF Badalona;[30] after no matches for either team, mainly due to bureaucratic problems,[31] he joined UD San Sebastián de los Reyes of the latter competition in August,[32] leaving on 21 January 2020.[33]

Emaná joined Real Jaén in summer 2020.[34]

International career

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An international since 2003, Emaná represented the Cameroon national team at that year's FIFA Confederations Cup, also appearing for the country in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, where his side exited in the quarter-finals.

Late in 2007, frustrated with the treatment he received whilst at the service of the national team, he retired from international play,[35] but returned shortly after,[36] appearing in the 2008 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored against Zambia in a 5–1 group stage win;[37] the side eventually lost the final to Egypt.[38]

Emaná represented Cameroon at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, playing two games (two defeats) in an eventual group stage exit for the Lions Indomptables. In exactly ten years of international play, he won 42 caps and scored six goals.[39]

Personal life

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Emaná's younger brother, Stephane, was also a footballer. A forward, he too had spells at Betis (youth only) and Gimnàstic.[40][41]

Honours

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Toulouse

Betis

Al Ahli

Cruz Azul

Cameroon

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Achille Emana". Eurosport. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. ^ Lyon look at new Essien; Sky Sports
  3. ^ L'OM admit Emana's an option; Sky Sports
  4. ^ Emana waiting for Pompey offer; Sky Sports
  5. ^ Emana keeps up Pompey hope; Sky Sports
  6. ^ Permit problems for Pompey deal; Sky Sports
  7. ^ Emana extends Toulouse deal; Sky Sports
  8. ^ Emana linked with Newcastle; Sky Sports
  9. ^ Emana linked with a move abroad; Sky Sports
  10. ^ Emana eyes Betis switch; Sky Sports
  11. ^ Emana earns Betis move; Sky Sports
  12. ^ Real Betis 3–0 Mallorca Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 19 October 2008
  13. ^ Racing Santander 2–3 Real Betis Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 12 April 2009
  14. ^ Real Betis 2–0 Sporting Gijón Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 19 April 2009
  15. ^ "Emaná asegura que "pronto" habrá un solución buena para todas las partes" [Emaná assures that a solution that will please everyone is "near"]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 August 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Emana: "Dejar el Betis está lejos en estos momentos"" [Emana: "Leaving Betis is far away right now"]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  17. ^ Espina, José A. (4 September 2011). "Molina y Rubén prometen goles también en Primera" [Molina and Rubén also promise goals in Primera]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  18. ^ Sannie, Ibrahim (11 August 2011). "Cameroon's Achille Emana joins Saudi side Al Hilal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  19. ^ Passela, Amith (27 July 2012). "Deal for midfielder Emana completes Al Ahli's foreign quartet". The National. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  20. ^ Rizvi, Ahmed (22 January 2013). "Al Wasl turn to Al Ahli's Achille Emana to bail them out of injury woes". The National. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  21. ^ Altamirano, Víctor (27 August 2013). "Cruz Azul da la bienvenida a Achille Emana" [Cruz Azul welcomes Achille Emana]. Excélsior (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Achille Emaná, nuevo refuerzo del Atlante" [Achille Emaná, new addition of Atlante] (in Spanish). Goal. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. ^ Cariño, Ricardo (2 June 2014). "Luis Fernando Tena: Yo decidí que Achille Emaná saliera de Cruz Azul" [Luis Fernando Tena: I decided that Achille Emaná will leave Cruz Azul] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  24. ^ "Achille Emaná entrenará con el Nàstic" [Achille Emaná will train with Nàstic] (in Spanish). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Emaná y Gal Arael, nuevos fichajes del Nàstic" [Emaná and Gal Arael, new signings of Nàstic] (in Spanish). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  26. ^ "Achille Emaná a la Segunda División de Japón" [Achille Emaná to the Second Division of Japan] (in Spanish). Goal. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  27. ^ "Achille Emaná i el Nàstic arriben a un acord" [Achille Emaná and Nàstic reach an agreement] (in Catalan). Gimnàstic Tarragona. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  28. ^ Roy, Shivayan (31 August 2017). "ISL 2017: Mumbai City FC wrap up deal for Cameroonian Achille Emaná". Goal. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  29. ^ "El exbético Emana ficha por el Gerena" [Former Betis man Emana signs for Gerena]. ABC (in Spanish). 24 October 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  30. ^ Abizanda, Jorge (31 January 2019). "El Badalona ficha a Achille Emaná, excentrocampista del Betis" [Badalona sign Achille Emaná, former Betis midfielder]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  31. ^ "El Badalona descarta el fichaje de Achille Emaná" [Badalona decide against signing Achille Emaná]. Diari de Tarragona (in Spanish). 6 March 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Emaná vuelve al fútbol español" [Emaná returns to Spanish football] (in Spanish). Be Soccer. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Achille Emaná, Iñigo López, Nacho Buil y Jonathan Bijimine no continuarán en el club" [Achille Emaná, Iñigo López, Nacho Buil and Jonathan Bijimine will not remain at club] (in Spanish). S.S. Reyes. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  34. ^ Wandji, Arthur (1 July 2020). "Espagne: Achille Emana (38 ans) rejoint le Real" [Spain: Achille Emana (38) joins Real] (in French). Orange Football Club. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  35. ^ Emana calls time on Cameroon; Sky Sports
  36. ^ Emana thriving on the pressure; FIFA, 28 April 2010
  37. ^ Vickers, Steve (26 January 2008). "Group C results". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  38. ^ Vickers, Steve (10 February 2008). "Final and third place". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  39. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Achille Emaná Edzimbi – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  40. ^ "El club deja irse al hermano de Emana por problemas burocráticos" [Club lets Emana's brother go for bureaucratic problems]. ABC (in Spanish). 25 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  41. ^ Jiménez, Francisco José (14 January 2013). "Achille Emaná: "Mi hermano demostrará lo que vale si le dan la oportunidad de jugar"" [Achille Emaná: "My brother will show what he is worth if given the opportunity to play"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
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