Nigel Atangana

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Nigel Atangana
Personal information
Full name Nigel Alfred Steven Atangana[1]
Date of birth (1989-09-09) 9 September 1989 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth Corbeil-Essonnes, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Exeter City
Number 4
Youth career
1998–2003 Bry FC
2003–2005 St-Quentin-en-Yvelines
2005–2007 FC Flerien
2007–2008 Caen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Avranches 10 (0)
2009–2011 Dives 14 (0)
2011–2012 Riudellots 32 (3)
2012–2013 Gravelines 21 (1)
2013–2014 Havant & Waterlooville 43 (5)
2014–2016 Portsmouth 43 (1)
2016–2017 Leyton Orient 58 (0)
2017–2019 Cheltenham Town 58 (3)
2019– Exeter City 36 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06:25, 2 March 2021 (UTC)

Nigel Alfred Steven Atangana (born 9 September 1989) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League Two club Exeter City.

Career[]

Early career[]

Born in Corbeil-Essonnes, Atangana made his senior debuts with US Avranches in CFA 2, after having trials at Luton Town, Gillingham, West Bromwich Albion and Grays Athletic.[3] After subsequently representing SU Dives,[4] he moved to Spain, joining Girona FC and being assigned to CF Riudellots, the club's farm team.[5] Atangana was called up to the main squad in Segunda División in November, but failed to appear with the club.

In the 2013 summer Atangana moved to US Gravelines Foot, also in France's fifth division. He appeared in 21 matches and scored once (the winner in a 2–1 home success against US Ailly-Sur-Somme on 1 December 2012).

Havant & Waterlooville[]

In September 2013, Atangana signed with Havant & Waterlooville.[6] He made his debut on the 30th, starting in a 1–1 FA Trophy draw against Gloucester City.[7]

Atangana made his league debut on 19 October, starting in a 0–0 draw against Dover Athletic.[8] He scored his first goal for Hawks on 11 January of the following year, the game's only in a home win against Ebbsfleet United.[9]

Atangana finished the season with 43 appearances and five goals, being named Havant & Waterlooville' Player of the Year.[10]

Portsmouth[]

On 19 June 2014, Atangana signed a two-year contract with League Two side Portsmouth, for an undisclosed fee.[11] He made his debut for the club on 9 August, coming on as a substitute for fellow debutant Craig Westcarr in a 1–1 away draw against Exeter City.

Atangana scored his first Pompey goal on 20 December, netting the equalizer in a 1–1 draw at Cheltenham Town. He appeared in 30 matches during the campaign, mainly due to the injury of starter James Dunne.

Leyton Orient[]

On 20 January 2016, Atangana joined Leyton Orient on an 18-month contract until the end of the 2016–17 season for an undisclosed fee. Atangana was given the number 15 upon arrival.[12]

Cheltenham Town[]

On 28 May 2017, Atangana signed a two-year contract with League Two side Cheltenham Town. He officially joined the Robins on 1 July 2017 when his contract with Leyton Orient came to an end.[13]

Exeter City[]

On 20 May 2019 he joined League Two team Exeter City Football Club after leaving Cheltenham Town following a long term Achilles injury. [14] Upon breaking into the side after recovering, he quickly became a fan favourite for his solid defensive play and his consistently high work rate, earning the fan-voted Player of the Month award for December. [15] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw at home to Hartlepool United in the FA Cup first round.[16] After the 2020-21 season, fans found out that he signed a three-year contract after Exeter's retained list stated he was under contract for the 2021-22 season. [17]

Personal life[]

Atangana is of Cameroonian descent.[18]

Career statistics[]

As of match played 27 February 2021
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Avranches 2008–09[19] CFA 2 10 0 — 10 0
Dives CFA 2 11 0 — 11 0
2010–11[20] 3 0 — 3 0
Total 14 0 — 14 0
Riudellots 2011–12[21] Segona Catalana 32 3 — 32 3
Gravelines 2012–13[22] CFA 2 21 1 — 21 1
Havant & Waterlooville 2013–14[23][24] Conference South 28 3 2 0 — 13[a] 2 43 5
Portsmouth 2014–15[22] League Two 30 1 2 0 1 0 2[b] 0 35 1
2015–16[22] 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Total 43 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 48 1
Leyton Orient 2015–16[25] League Two 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 0
2016–17[26] 29 0 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 32 0
Total 58 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 61 0
Cheltenham Town 2017–18[27] League Two 32 1 0 0 2 0 1[b] 0 35 1
2018–19[28] 26 2 3 0 1 0 4[b] 0 34 2
Total 58 3 3 0 3 0 5 0 69 3
Exeter City 2019–20[29] League Two 22 1 4 1 0 0 6[c] 0 32 2
2020–21[30] 14 0 2 0 1 0 2[b] 2 19 2
Total 36 1 6 1 1 0 8 2 51 4
Career total 290 12 14 1 6 0 29 4 338 17
  1. ^ Nine appearances in the FA Trophy and four in the Hampshire Senior Cup
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Three appearances in the Football League Trophy and three appearances in the EFL League Two play-offs

References[]

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Exeter City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 26. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Nigel Atangana". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Nigel Atangana: "Les galères te font plus savourer"" [Nigel Atangana: "The galleys are what you enjoy the most"] (in French). Hat-Trick. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Football: Samir Alla est devenu un technicien tout terrain" [Football: Samir Alla became a field technician] (in French). Ouest France. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Amb Nigel Atangana i Franck Songo'o" [With Nigel Atangana and Franck Songo'o] (in Catalan). El Punt Avui. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Final September Moves..." Pitchero Non League. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  7. ^ "New Frenchman Makes Hawks Debut". Pitchero Non League. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Dover Athletic 0 Havant & Waterlooville 0". Havant & Waterlooville.net. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Havant & Waterlooville 1 Ebbsfleet United 0". Havant & Waterlooville.net. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Nigel Atangana joins Portsmouth FC". Havant & Waterlooville. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Pompey sign Atangana". Portsmouth FC. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  12. ^ "NEWS: O's swoop for Atangana". Leyton Orient F.C. 20 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Done deal: Nigel Atangana signs for the Robins". Cheltenham Town FC. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. ^ "✍️ Nigel Atangana signs for Exeter City".
  15. ^ "