Axel Ngando

Axel Thomas Ngando Elessa (born 13 July 1993) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Azerbaijan Premier League club Araz-Naxçıvan PFK. At international level, he has represented France at various youth levels.

Axel Ngando

Ngando with France U19 in July 2012
Personal information
Full name	Axel Thomas Ngando Elessa[1]
Date of birth	(1993-07-13) 13 July 1993 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth	Asnières-sur-Seine, France
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Araz-Naxçıvan
Number	19
Youth career
2000–2002	A.S. Courdimanche
2002–2004	U.S. Méry-sur-Oise
2004–2005	A.S. Saint-Ouen l' Aumone
2005–2007	Paris Saint-Germain
2007–2012	Rennes
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2013	Rennes B	23	(3)
2012–2015	Rennes	4	(1)
2013	→ Auxerre B (loan)	1	(1)
2013–2014	→ Auxerre (loan)	25	(3)
2015	→ Angers (loan)	19	(1)
2015–2016	Bastia B	3	(1)
2015–2017	Bastia	42	(2)
2017–2019	Göztepe	30	(3)
2019–2021	Auxerre	45	(7)
2021–2023	Grenoble	23	(0)
2023–	Araz-Naxçıvan	15	(0)
International career
2011	France U18	4	(0)
2011–2012	France U19	15	(1)
2012–2013	France U20	13	(2)
2013–2014	France U21	4	(0)
Medal record Representing  France Men's football FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 2013 Turkey
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 April 2024

Club career

Early career and loans

Ngando started his career playing for the "B" team of Rennes, who played in the Championnat de France Amateur.^[2] He scored his first goal for the "B" team on 21 May 2011 against Poiré-sur-Vie, in which he scored in the 47th minute to help his team to a 3–2 victory.^[3] His second goal for Rennes's reserves came on 4 November 2012 against La Chapelle-des-Marais, in which he scored in the 82nd minute to provide his team a 2–0 victory.^[4]

After several impressive matches for the Rennes "B" team, Ngando made his debut for the first-team in a Ligue 1 game on 2 February 2013 against Lorient, in which he came on as a 90th-minute substitute for Romain Alessandrini and scored a goal, just one minute into his debut in the 91st minute to equalize for Rennes and finish the match at a score of 2–2.^[5]

Rennes loaned Ngando to Auxerre on 4 September 2013, to continue his progress.^[6] Three days later, he made his first start with Auxerre B against Feurs.^[7]

On 12 January 2015, Ngando was loaned to Angers for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.^[8]

Later career

On 31 August 2015, Ngando joined Bastia on a three-year deal.^[9]

In 2017, he joined Süper Lig side Göztepe S.K.^[10]

Ngando returned to France on 1 August 2019, rejoining Auxerre permanently.^[11]

On 30 December 2021, he signed for Ligue 2 side Grenoble.^[12]

On 18 September 2023, Ngando joined Azerbaijani club Araz-Naxçıvan PFK, on a one-year deal.^[13]

International career

Ngando is a France youth international, having represented his country at under-18 through under-21 levels, including winning the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, in which he scored in the penalty shoot-out in the final.^[14]

Personal life

He is the nephew of former Cameroon international Patrick Mboma, and is eligible to represent either Cameroon or France at senior level.

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 October 2023^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Rennes B	2010–11	National 2	6	1	—		—		6	1
	2012–13	National 3	17	2	—		—		17	2
	2014–15	National 3	7	4	—		—		7	4
	Total		30	7	0	0	0	0	30	7
Rennes	2012–13	Ligue 1	4	1	0	0	0	0	4	1
Auxerre B (loan)	2013–14	National 3	1	1	—		—		1	1
Auxerre (loan)	2013–14	Ligue 2	25	3	4	1	2	0	31	4
Angers (loan)	2014–15	Ligue 2	19	1	0	0	0	0	19	1
Bastia B	2015–16	National 3	1	1	—		—		1	1
	2016–17	National 3	2	0	—		—		2	0
	Total		3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
Bastia	2015–16	Ligue 1	22	2	2	0	1	0	25	2
	2016–17	Ligue 1	20	0	1	0	0	0	21	0
	Total		42	2	3	0	1	0	46	2
Göztepe	2017–18	Süper Lig	16	2	1	1	—		17	3
	2018–19	Süper Lig	14	1	4	3	—		18	4
	Total		30	3	5	4	0	0	35	7
Auxerre	2019–20	Ligue 2	16	5	2	1	1	0	19	6
	2020–21	Ligue 2	29	2	2	0	0	0	31	2
	Total		45	7	4	1	1	0	50	8
Grenoble	2021–22	Ligue 2	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2022–23	Ligue 2	19	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
	Total		23	0	0	0	0	0	23	0
Araz-Naxçıvan	2023–24	Azerbaijan Premier League	2	0	0	0	—		2	0
Career total			228	26	16	6	4	0	248	32

Honours

France U20

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2013^[14]