Prince Segbefia
Encyclopedia
Kossi Prince Segbefia is a Togo
lese football
player who currently plays for French club Auxerre
in Ligue 1
. He plays as an attacking midfielder
. Segbefia is a Togolese international
and made his debut in September 2011 against Botswana
. His older brother, Alikem
, is also a footballer and currently plays for Al-Jaish SC Damascus in Syria
.
where he underwent trials
with professional clubs Marseille
, Reims, Niort, and Sochaux
. Several of the clubs were interested in signing Segbefia to a youth contract, but due to his age, 16 years old at the time, he was not signed. Afterwards, Segbefia returned to Togo where he was spotted by German
Winfried Schäfer who was serving as manager of Al Ain
in the United Arab Emirates
. Segbefia, subsequently, signed with the club. Due to Al Ain being prohibited to use only four foreigners in its squad, he spent most of his time with Al Ain playing on the reserve team.
. Adebayor recommended that he play in France and contacted Francis de Taddeo who had coached him at Metz
and was now serving as the youth academy director of Auxerre
. After successfully trialing with the club, Segbefia was signed to a one-year amateur contract. He spent the 2009–10 season
playing on Auxerre's under-19 team before earning promotion to the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football, for the 2010–11 season
. Segbefia spent the majority of the season with the team making 17 appearances and scoring one goal. In April 2011, he was called up to the senior team by manager Jean Fernandez
and made his club debut in a 1–0 league victory over Toulouse
appearing as a substitute. A week later, he made his first club start in a 1–1 draw with Lens
. Segbefia finished the campaign with four appearances and, on 6 May 2011, signed a three-year professional contract with the club.
and the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
. In the former competition, he appeared in all five matches the team contested as it finished runner-up to Nigeria
. In the U-17 World Cup, he appeared in two group stage matches; as a starter in a 1–1 draw with Costa Rica
and as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat against South Korea. Togo finished its group in last place.
for the first time for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Botswana
on 4 September. He made his senior international debut in the match, which Togo won 1–0.
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
lese football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who currently plays for French club Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He plays as an attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. Segbefia is a Togolese international
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
and made his debut in September 2011 against Botswana
Botswana national football team
The Botswana national football team, nicknamed 'The Zebras' is the national football team of Botswana and is controlled by the Botswana Football Association. They have never qualified for the World Cup but they have qualified for the 2012 African Nations Cup...
. His older brother, Alikem
Alikem Segbefia
Kuessi Alikem Segbefia is a Togolese footballer, who plays for Teshrin.-Career:Segbefia began his career with Sporting Club Lome on youth side and was transferred to AS Douanes...
, is also a footballer and currently plays for Al-Jaish SC Damascus in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Early career
Segbefia began his football career at the Centre de Développement Sportif de Lomé (Sports Development Centre of Lomé), also known as Sporting Club de Lomé. He spent nearly a decade at the club before venturing to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he underwent trials
Trial (sport)
Trial may refer to the following types of competitions.*Time trials*Car or motor trial, motoring competitions of skill and/or reliability*Motorcycle trials, an obstacle motorcycle competition...
with professional clubs Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, Reims, Niort, and Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
. Several of the clubs were interested in signing Segbefia to a youth contract, but due to his age, 16 years old at the time, he was not signed. Afterwards, Segbefia returned to Togo where he was spotted by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Winfried Schäfer who was serving as manager of Al Ain
Al Ain FC
Al-Ain Sports and Cultural Club is a professional association football and mult-sports club based in the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The football section of Al Ain won the 2003 AFC Champions League competition with a 2-1 aggregate victory over BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand.Al Ain...
in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Segbefia, subsequently, signed with the club. Due to Al Ain being prohibited to use only four foreigners in its squad, he spent most of his time with Al Ain playing on the reserve team.
Auxerre
In 2009, Segbefia returned to his home country and met with former Sporting Club de Lomé player Emmanuel AdebayorEmmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
. Adebayor recommended that he play in France and contacted Francis de Taddeo who had coached him at Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
and was now serving as the youth academy director of Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. After successfully trialing with the club, Segbefia was signed to a one-year amateur contract. He spent the 2009–10 season
2009–10 in French football
The 2009–10 season was the 77th season of competitive professional football in France.The season began on 7 August 2009 for the Championnat National and Ligue 2 and on 8 August for Ligue 1 and the Championnat de France amateur...
playing on Auxerre's under-19 team before earning promotion to the club's reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football, for the 2010–11 season
2010–11 Championnat de France amateur
The 2010–11 Championnat de France amateur was the 13th edition since its establishment. Colmar were the defending champions. Due to the elongated appeals process involving each clubs' eligibility, the groups and fixtures were unveiled to the public on 15 July 2010 and the season began on 7 August...
. Segbefia spent the majority of the season with the team making 17 appearances and scoring one goal. In April 2011, he was called up to the senior team by manager Jean Fernandez
Jean Fernandez
Jean Fernandez is a football manager, currently manages AS Nancy. He has previously managed FC Metz and Olympique Marseille, where French national team star Franck Ribéry saw him as a mentor...
and made his club debut in a 1–0 league victory over Toulouse
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
appearing as a substitute. A week later, he made his first club start in a 1–1 draw with Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. Segbefia finished the campaign with four appearances and, on 6 May 2011, signed a three-year professional contract with the club.
Youth
Segbefia made his youth international debut at under-17 level playing with the Togo under-17 team. He made his debut in a 2006 friendly match against the Burkina Faso. The Togo under-17 team later qualified for both the 2007 African Under-17 Championship2007 African Under-17 Championship
The 2007 African Under-17 Football Championship was the seventh edition of the CAF's African Under-17 Football Championship, held in Togo from March 10 to March 25, 2007...
and the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2007 was held in the Korea Republic between 18 August and 9 September 2007. For this event, the number of teams had been expanded from 16 to 24, with the top two of each group and the four best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 16...
. In the former competition, he appeared in all five matches the team contested as it finished runner-up to Nigeria
Nigeria national under-17 football team
-History:The team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 , 1993 and 2007. They also won the African Under-17 Championship in 2001 and 2007, and were runners-up in 1995....
. In the U-17 World Cup, he appeared in two group stage matches; as a starter in a 1–1 draw with Costa Rica
Costa Rica national under-17 football team
The Costa Rica national under-17 football team represents Costa Rica in international football at this age level and is controlled by Federación Costarricense de Fútbol.-CONCACAF U-17 Championship Record:*1984: First Place*1987: DNQ*1988: DNQ*1991: DNQ...
and as a substitute in a 2–1 defeat against South Korea. Togo finished its group in last place.
Senior
On 28 August 2011, Segbefia was called up to the senior national teamTogo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
for the first time for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Botswana
Botswana national football team
The Botswana national football team, nicknamed 'The Zebras' is the national football team of Botswana and is controlled by the Botswana Football Association. They have never qualified for the World Cup but they have qualified for the 2012 African Nations Cup...
on 4 September. He made his senior international debut in the match, which Togo won 1–0.
Club
(Correct as of 31 October 2011)| Club | Season | League | CupIncludes Coupe de France Coupe de France The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation... , Coupe de la Ligue Coupe de la Ligue The Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel... , Trophée des Champions Trophée des champions The Trophée des champions , is a French association football trophy contested in an annual match between the champions of Ligue 1 and the winners of the Coupe de France. It is equivalent to the Super Cups found in many countries... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... Includes UEFA Supercup |
Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Auxerre AJ Auxerre Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the... |
2010–11 2010–11 Ligue 1 The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011–12 2011–12 Ligue 1 The 2011–12 Ligue 1 season is the 74th since its establishment. Lille are the defending champions. The league schedule was announced on 31 March 2011 and the fixtures were determined on 10 June. The season began on 6 August 2011 and will end on 20 May 2012... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
International
- (Correct as of 31 October 2011)
| National team | Season | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Togo Togo national football team The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus... |
2011–12 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |