Samson Akinyoola

Samson Akinyoola (born 3 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-forward for Kuwaiti club Kazma SC and the Benin national team.^[1] Born in Porto-Novo, Benin, to a Nigerian father and Beninese mother, he holds dual citizenship and grew up in Nigeria, where he began developing his skills in local academies.^[2] Standing at 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall and right-footed, Akinyoola is known for his goal-scoring prowess and has represented Benin internationally with two caps.^[1][3] Akinyoola launched his professional career at the 36 Lion Club academy in Lagos, Nigeria, before transitioning to Europe in 2019 with a loan spell at the youth team of Slovak club DAC Dunajská Streda, followed by a move to FK Senica in the Fortuna Liga, where he made 15 appearances and scored 4 goals.^[2] In January 2021, he joined Venezuelan side Caracas FC on a free transfer, quickly establishing himself as a key player and finishing as the Liga FUTVE's top scorer in the 2021 season with 18 goals in 34 appearances, helping the team to a runner-up finish.^[4][5] In September 2022, Akinyoola transferred to Egyptian club Zamalek SC for a reported €1.2 million, where he contributed to their 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup victory, appearing in 7 matches and scoring once during the campaign.^[6] After over two years with Zamalek, during which he made 23 league appearances and scored 3 goals, he left the club in November 2024 before signing with Kazma SC in Kuwait on 26 December 2024 and remaining with the club into the 2025–26 season, where he has scored 5 goals as of November 2025.^[6][7][8] Throughout his career, he has accumulated 129 club appearances and 38 goals across multiple continents.^[9]

Early life and background

Birth and upbringing

Samson Akinyoola was born on 3 March 2000 in Porto-Novo, Benin.^[2] Sources differ on his exact birthplace, with some reporting Porto-Novo, Benin, and others Lagos, Nigeria.^[2][1] His family background reflects a blend of Beninese and Nigerian heritage, with a Nigerian father and a Beninese mother, which contributed to his dual citizenship and eligibility to represent either nation internationally.^[2] Although born in Benin, Akinyoola grew up in Nigeria, where his family relocated during his early childhood.^[2] In Nigeria, he was first exposed to football through informal street games, influenced by the vibrant local culture and community surroundings that fostered his early interest in the sport.^[2] Standing at 1.70 meters tall, Akinyoola developed as a centre-forward, a position that suited his agile build and goal-scoring instincts from those formative years.^[1]

Youth career and initial development

Samson Akinyoola began his organized youth football journey at 36 Lion FC, a prominent academy in Lagos, Nigeria, where he joined the youth ranks after playing street football in his early years.^[2] From July 2018 to February 2019, he trained and competed as a forward, honing his technical skills and physical attributes in the competitive Nigerian youth leagues, which emphasized speed and flair typical of West African football development.^[10] In February 2019, Akinyoola was loaned to the U19 team of DAC Dunajská Streda in Slovakia, marking his first exposure to European football systems; the move lasted until June 2019 and was arranged by 36 Lion FC to provide international experience.^[11] During this period, he adapted to the more structured and tactical demands of Slovak youth leagues, which contrasted sharply with the improvisational style of Nigerian football.^[10] This loan stint served as a crucial bridge, allowing him to build resilience and refine his positioning in a disciplined environment.^[12] The experience at DAC Dunajská Streda U19 facilitated Akinyoola's broader shift from Nigerian youth setups, focused on raw talent nurturing, to the professional-oriented European youth pathways that prioritize technical drills and team integration.^[10]

Club career

Early professional career

Samson Akinyoola began his professional career with 36 Lion FC in Nigeria, where he made his senior debut in 2018 after progressing through the club's youth ranks.^[2] During his time with the Lagos-based club from July 2018 to February 2019, Akinyoola featured in senior matches, showcasing his potential as a forward and contributing goals in competitive fixtures.^[1] In February 2019, at the age of 19, Akinyoola was loaned from 36 Lion FC to the U19 team of Slovak club DAC Dunajská Streda, providing his first exposure to European football structures.^[13] The loan ended in June 2019, after which he returned briefly to 36 Lion FC before securing a permanent move.^[12] Akinyoola's performances during this period attracted scouting interest from European clubs, leading to his transfer to FK Senica in the Slovak Fortuna Liga in July 2019, marking his first full professional contract abroad.^[6] The move represented a significant transition for the young striker, who faced challenges adapting to life and football in Europe for the first time, describing the experience in Slovakia as "a bit hard" due to the unfamiliar environment and cultural differences.^[2]

FK Senica

Samson Akinyoola signed with FK Senica in July 2019 on a multi-year professional contract, marking his first senior stint in European football after ending a youth loan at DAC Dunajská Streda U19.^[6][12] He made his debut for the club in the Slovak Cup against TJ Slovan Pezinok on 10 September 2019, contributing a goal in a 6–0 win.^[14] Four days later, Akinyoola featured in his Fortuna Liga debut, coming on as a substitute in a 0–3 home loss to DAC Dunajská Streda on 14 September 2019.^[15] Across the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 seasons, Akinyoola recorded 18 appearances and 4 goals in the Fortuna Liga, primarily as a centre-forward adapting to the league's tactical and physical intensity.^[16][17] His first league goal came on matchday 10 against FK Pohronie Žiar nad Hronom in November 2019, initiating a run of form that included strikes against MSK Žilina and AS Trenčín in consecutive matches later that season.^[18] These performances highlighted his quick integration into the more robust European style, leveraging his pace and positioning to exploit defensive lines.^[19] In January 2021, Akinyoola departed FK Senica on a free transfer amid reduced playing opportunities following the 2020 winter break, having featured in only a handful of matches early in the 2020–2021 campaign.^[6]

Caracas FC

In January 2021, Samson Akinyoola transferred from FK Senica to Caracas FC for an undisclosed fee, marking his entry into South American football.^[12] During his tenure from 2021 to September 2022, Akinyoola made 67 appearances and scored 28 goals across all competitions, establishing himself as a prolific forward in the Venezuelan Primera División.^[20] His goal-scoring earned him the nickname "African goal-scoring king" in Venezuela, reflecting his rapid adaptation and impact in a new league.^[2] In the 2021 season, he led the league as top scorer with 18 goals, contributing significantly to Caracas FC's runner-up finish.^[21] He also provided key goals in domestic cup competitions, including the Copa Venezuela, bolstering the team's campaigns.^[20] Akinyoola's prior experience in European leagues, such as with FK Senica in Slovakia, aided his quick adjustment to the physical and tactical demands of Venezuelan football. In September 2022, Akinyoola departed Caracas FC amid growing interest from African clubs, paving the way for his next move.^[13]

Zamalek SC

In September 2022, Samson Akinyoola signed a three-year contract with Zamalek SC, transferring from Venezuelan club Caracas FC for a reported fee of €1.2 million, drawn by his prolific scoring record of 13 goals in 25 appearances the previous season.^[13][7] Over the next two seasons, Akinyoola featured in 37 matches for Zamalek across all competitions, netting five goals while primarily serving as a substitute amid intense competition for attacking positions from established forwards like Sebastian Girotti and Mustafa Shalaby.^[7] His limited starting opportunities, with only a handful of league starts, reflected the depth of Zamalek's squad but allowed him to contribute in rotational roles, including a goal in the Egyptian Premier League opener against Ismaily SC. Akinyoola played a supporting role in Zamalek's continental triumphs during this period, appearing in seven matches of the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup campaign, where he scored the second goal in the 3–0 semi-final victory over Dreams FC and started in the second leg of the final against RS Berkane, which Zamalek won 1–0 after extra time (2–2 aggregate, advancing on away goals) to claim the title.^[22][23] He remained part of the squad that defeated Al Ahly 4–3 on penalties in the 2024 CAF Super Cup following a 1–1 draw, though he did not feature in the match.^[24] In summer 2024, following a season of diminished playing time, Akinyoola and Zamalek mutually agreed to terminate his contract early, with the club waiving 50% of his outstanding dues in the settlement.^[7][25]

Kazma SC

In late 2024, following the termination of his contract with Zamalek SC, Samson Akinyoola joined Kazma SC in the Kuwait Premier League as a free agent.^[1] He signed a short-term deal on 26 December 2024 and remains with the club as of November 2025, marking his transition to Asian football after previous stints in Europe, South America, and Africa.^[1][26] As a right-footed centre-forward wearing jersey number 23, Akinyoola has adapted to the Kuwaiti league by serving as a mobile striker, emphasizing pace and positioning to exploit defensive lines in a more physical style of play compared to his Egyptian experience. In the 2024–2025 season, he has made limited appearances, scoring 1 goal across 11 matches as of early November 2025, contributing to Kazma SC's mid-table positioning.^[14] Akinyoola remains an active player for Kazma SC as of November 2025, with his contract potentially opening avenues for further transfers in the upcoming window, depending on his form and team needs.^[1]

International career

Youth international career

Samson Akinyoola earned his first call-up to Benin's U20 national team in 2018 under coach Valère Houandjinou for the qualification campaign for the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.^[28] At the age of 18, he was selected from local youth ranks, providing him with his initial exposure to international competition and contributing to his early professional development by showcasing his goal-scoring ability on a continental stage.^[29] In the second round against Gambia, Akinyoola made a significant impact during the return leg on 20 May 2018 at Stade René Pleven in Cotonou, where Benin secured a 2-0 victory with his brace in the 14th and 49th minutes, overturning a 2-1 first-leg deficit to advance 3-2 on aggregate to the third round.^[28] Benin faced Ghana in the third round, suffering a 3-1 defeat in the first leg on 4 August 2018 and a 1–1 draw in the return leg on 12 August 2018, and was eliminated 4–2 on aggregate.^[30][31] Across the qualification ties, Akinyoola recorded two goals during the qualification campaign, highlighting his emergence as a promising forward for the Ecureuils cadets.^[28] Akinyoola's dual Benin-Nigerian citizenship facilitated his eligibility for the national youth setup, drawing attention from scouts in both countries during this period.^[32] Following the 2019 qualification failure, he received no further youth international caps, transitioning focus to senior opportunities thereafter.^[1]

Senior international career

Samson Akinyoola received his first senior call-up to the Benin national team in September 2022 ahead of a pair of international friendlies.^[33] He made his debut on 24 September 2022, substituting into a 1–0 loss against Mauritania in the 67th minute as a centre-forward.^[33] Three days later, on 27 September 2022, Akinyoola earned his second cap in another friendly, entering as a substitute for 26 minutes during Benin's 3–1 defeat to Madagascar.^[3] As of November 2025, Akinyoola has accumulated two caps for Benin with no goals scored, all from substitute appearances in those 2022 friendlies.^[14] Building on his youth international experience, he serves as a forward option in Benin's competitive senior squad, though he has not featured in official matches such as Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.^[1]

Honours

Club honours

During his tenure with Zamalek SC, Samson Akinyoola contributed to the club's success in continental competitions, securing two major trophies. Akinyoola was a key squad member in Zamalek's 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup triumph, where the team defeated RS Berkane 2–2 on aggregate in the final (1–2 away, 1–0 home), winning on the away goals rule. He appeared in 7 matches during the tournament, including scoring Zamalek's second goal in a 3–0 semi-final win over Dreams FC on April 28, 2024, assisting their progression to the final.^[25][34][35] Zamalek also claimed the 2024 CAF Super Cup on September 27, 2024, drawing 1–1 with Al Ahly SC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Wessam Abou Ali 44' pen. for Al Ahly; Nasser Mansi 77' for Zamalek), and winning 4–3 on penalties. Akinyoola was included in the matchday squad but did not feature in the game.^[14][36]

International honours

Samson Akinyoola has not won any senior international honours or trophies with the Benin national team as of November 2025, having made only two appearances in friendly matches without contributing to tournament progression.^[37] At the youth level, Akinyoola participated in Benin's qualification campaign for the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, where the team advanced past Gambia in the preliminary round but was eliminated by Ghana in the final round on a 4-2 aggregate score, failing to reach the tournament.^[38][39]