Richard Akonnor

{{Short description|Emirati footballer (born 2004)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Richard Akonnor | image = | caption = | full_name = Richard Akonnor | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|2|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Accra, Ghana | height = {{height|m=1.85|precision=0}} | position = Left-back | currentclub = Al Jazira | clubnumber = 11 | youthyears1 = 2014–2020 | youthclubs1 = Liberty Professionals | youthyears2 = 2020–2022 | youthclubs2 = Al Jazira | years1 = 2022– | clubs1 = Al Jazira | caps1 = 41 | goals1 = 1 | nationalyears1 = 2025 | nationalteam1 = United Arab Emirates U23 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2025– | nationalteam2 = United Arab Emirates | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 }}

'''Richard Akonnor''' ({{Langx|ar|ريتشارد أكونور}}; born 6 February 2004) is a professional football player who plays as a left back for Al Jazira and the United Arab Emirates national team, Born in Ghana, he represents United Arab Emirates at international level.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85/%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A8/r-akonnor/6k08b81barjg5knx01lprtst0|title=اللاعب Richard Akonnor - الإحصائيات والسيرة الذاتية | كووورة|website=www.kooora.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Akonnor|url=https://www.365scores.com/en-uk/football/player/richard-akonnor-124136|website=365scores.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uaeproleague.ae/en/player/richard-akonnor/pro-league-u21-1|title=Richard Akonnor|website=uaeproleague.com.sa}}</ref>

==Club career== Akonnor began his training with Liberty Professionals in Ghana before completing it at Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/ghanaian-starlet-richard-akonnor-training-with-al-jazira-fc-ahead-of-uae-pro-league-season|title=Ghanaian starlet Richard Akonnor training with Al-Jazira FC ahead of UAE Pro League season}}</ref> There, he also signed his first professional contract, playing in the UAE Pro League.

==International career== In 2025, Akonnor obtained Emirati citizenship and was selected to join United Arab Emirates U23. Later that same year, he was called up to the United Arab Emirates to participate in 2025 FIFA Arab Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2025/11/28/d61|title= UAE National Team departs for Doha to participate in Arab Cup}}</ref> In the competition's quarter-finals against Algeria, he converted the decisive spot kick in a 7–6 penalty shootout victory, sending his nation into the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/fifa-arab-cup/articles/united-arab-emirates-defeat-algeria-in-a-memorable-penalty-shootout-and-reach-the-arab-cup-2025-semifinals-2025-12-12 |title=United Arab Emirates Defeat Algeria in a Memorable Penalty Shootout and Reach the Arab Cup 2025 Semifinals |publisher=beIN SPORTS |date=12 December 2025 }}</ref>

== Personal life == He converted to Islam in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ريتشارد لاعب الجزيرة يشهر إسلامه |url=https://www.alkhaleej.ae/node/1909701 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=صحيفة الخليج |language=ar}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{NFT player|pid=101892}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akonnor, Richard}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:Emirati men's footballers Category:Ghanaian men's footballers Category:United Arab Emirates men's international footballers Category:Naturalised association football players Category:Ghanaian emigrants to the United Arab Emirates Category:Ghanaian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates Category:Naturalized citizens of the United Arab Emirates Category:Emirati people of Ghanaian descent Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:Liberty Professionals F.C. players Category:Al Jazira Club players Category:UAE Pro League players Category:21st-century Ghanaian sportsmen Category:21st-century Emirati sportsmen