Clément Akpa has found a familiar patch of grass at Auxerre, and with it perhaps a route back to himself. The Ivory Coast defender was restored to the left side of a three-man central defence in last weekend’s 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Nice, producing the kind of display that had previously made him a key figure at the club.
Auxerre coach Will Still believes the 3-4-2-1 shape used against Nice is particularly suited to the 24-year-old left-footer. Akpa now wants to build on that return when 15th-placed AJA travel into Sunday’s fifth-round meeting with Brest, scheduled for 15:00.
Quick facts
- Clément Akpa, 24, is an Ivory Coast international with five caps.
- Auxerre beat Nice 1-0 after switching to a 3-4-2-1 system.
- Akpa played as the left-sided centre-back in a back three against Nice.
- He made 26 appearances last season, starting 21 times.
- The defender remains contracted to Auxerre until June 2028.
- Auxerre, currently 15th in Ligue 1, face Brest on Sunday at 15:00.
Akpa admitted that last season had been difficult after a strong 2024-25 campaign. He was used mainly in a two-man central partnership under Christophe Pélissier, rather than in the role that now appears to bring out his best qualities.
“I have something to prove because I want to leave the best possible impression at AJA,” Akpa said. “Last season was difficult, but it helped me a lot as a person. I had never experienced that before, so I am also glad to have gone through it.”
His campaign was further disrupted when an adductor injury prevented him from joining Ivory Coast at the World Cup, despite being selected. Akpa had been given permission to leave during the summer transfer window, but stayed at Auxerre and says the uncertainty initially affected him.
After the market closed, he reset. Still used him at left-back for the opening three Ligue 1 matches, with the coach encouraged by those performances, before moving him into the left-centre-back position against Nice.
“I refocused after the transfer window because it had unsettled me a little,” Akpa said. “Now I feel good and I am gradually getting my confidence back.”
He also reflected on the greater scrutiny that arrived with his increased status. During his earlier development, former Auxerre captain Jubal was the established reference point in defence; after the Brazilian’s departure in summer 2025, Akpa found that mistakes carried more weight.
“Before, Jubal was there and my errors were hidden,” he said with a smile. “It was not necessarily me who was criticised first. Last season it was the opposite. I wanted to become one of the leaders, and that is part of the process.”
Still sees responsibility as the next stage of Akpa’s development, but insists the defender still has work to do. The coach and his staff have used video sessions and regular conversations to sharpen his game.
“We are demanding with him because there are many things he can improve,” Still said. “He is reaching an age where he can begin to take responsibility, and that is what we will ask him to do. He is receptive, eager to learn and take things in, which makes him enjoyable to work with every day.”
The immediate test comes at Brest. For Akpa, the task is simple: make the Nice performance more than one bright night, and turn a preferred role into a sustained recovery.
