Nigel Atangana

Nigel Atangana

Personal information
Full name	Nigel Alfred Steven Atangana[1]
Date of birth	9 September 1989
Place of birth	Corbeil-Essonnes, France
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team	Leyton Orient
Number	15
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	28	(3)
2014–2016	Portsmouth	43	(1)
2016–	Leyton Orient	16	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:27, 30 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Nigel Alfred Steven Atangana (born 9 September 1989) is a French professional footballer who plays for Leyton Orient as a defensive midfielder.

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.^[2] After subsequently representing SU Dives,^[3] he moved to Spain, joining Girona FC and being assigned to CF Riudellots, the club's farm team.^[4] 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.^[5] He made his debut on the 30th, starting in a 1–1 FA Trophy draw against Gloucester City.^[6]

Atangana made his league debut on 19 October, starting in a 0–0 draw against Dover Athletic.^[7] 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.^[8]

Atangana finished the season with 43 appearances and five goals, being named Havant & Waterlooville' Player of the Year.^[9]

Portsmouth

On 19 June 2014, Atangana signed a two-year contract with League Two side Portsmouth, for an undisclosed fee.^[10] 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.^[11]

Career statistics

As of 30 April 2016

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Avranches	2008–09[12]	CFA 2	10	0	—						10	0
Dives	2009–10	CFA 2	11	0	—						11	0
	2010–11[13]		3	0	—						3	0
	Total		14	0	—						14	0
Riudellots	2011–12[14]	Segona Catalana	32	3	—						32	3
Gravelines	2012–13[15]	CFA 2	21	1	—						21	1
Havant & Waterlooville	2013–14[16][17]	Conference South	28	3	2	0	—		13	2	43	5
Portsmouth	2014–15[15]	League Two	30	1	2	0	1	0	2	0	35	1
	2015–16[15]		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[15]	League Two	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	0
Career total			164	8	4	0	1	0	15	2	184	10

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Transferred Between 01/07/2014 and 31/07/2014". The FA. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
2. "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.
3. "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.
4. "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.
5. "Final September Moves.....". Pitchero Non League. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
6. "New Frenchman Makes Hawks Debut". Pitchero Non League. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
7. "Dover Athletic 0 Havant & Waterlooville 0". Havant & Waterlooville.net. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
8. "Havant & Waterlooville 1 Ebbsfleet United 0". Havant & Waterlooville.net. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
9. "Nigel Atangana joins Portsmouth FC". Havant & Waterlooville. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
10. "Pompey sign Atangana". Portsmouth FC. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
11. "NEWS: O's swoop for Atangana". Leyton Orient F.C. 20 January 2016.
12. "Nigel Atangana" (in French). US Avranches. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
13. "Nigel Atangana". Football Database. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
14. "Taula golejadors – Segona Catalana, Grup 1 – Temporada 2011–2012" [Goalscorers' table – Segona Catalana, Group 1 – Season 2011–2012] (in Catalan). FCF. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
15. Nigel Atangana profile at Soccerway
16. "Appearances by Player – Nigel Atangana (2013/2014 Season)". Havant & Waterlooville.net. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
17. "Goals by Player – Nigel Atangana (2013/2014 Season)". Havant & Waterlooville.net. Retrieved 19 June 2014.

External links

• Football Database profile
• Nigel Atangana profile at Soccerway
• Hat-Trick profile (French)