Joël Epalle

Early career

He began his career in his local team called Union Douala.

Ethnikos

Epalle signed for Greek club Ethnikos in December 1997. Until the end of the season Epalle played in 16 matches for the club of Piraeus. In his second season for the club, Epalle continued appearing regularly, totalling 23 matches, not managing to help his club avoid relegation. In the Beta Ethniki Epalle managed to score his first goal for Ethnikos in a match against Apollon Kalamarias. He managed to score two more, before leaving the club during the winter transfer window.

Panachaiki

During the winter transfer window of the 1999-00 season Epalle signed for Panachaiki. He signed a two-year contract on a free transfer, on 26 January 2000, after gaining his freedom from Ethnikos, due to the club's debt to him. Epalle debuted for Panachaiki on 29 January 2000, in a 0–2 home win against Olympiacos. In his first season in Patras Epalle featured in 15 league matches and scored two goals. Epalle played for Panachaiki for almost two years and totalled three goals out of 44 appearances.

Aris

Epalle left them for Aris.

Panathinaikos

After being released from Aris, Epalle signed a four-year contract for Greek club Panathinaikos in July 2003, stating his ambition to win trophies for Panathinaikos. Epalle made his debut for Panathinaikos in the first round of the 2003–04 season, as he was in the starting lineup in Panathinaikos' 1–0 home win against Skoda…

Epalle was capped with Cameroon and was a participant at the 2000 Olympic Games and at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. So far, he gained 31 caps with Cameroon and scored two goals. His first cap for Cameroon was on 26 November 1995, in a match against Gabon in Libreville for Bellier Africa Tournament. His debut was made while aged 17 years and 283, making him the tenth youngest player to gain a full cap for Cameroon at that time (16th nowadays).

2000 Summer Olympics football tournament

Epalle played in the opening match of Cameroon, coming in as a substitute in the 78th minute for Serge Branco, in a match that his team won by a 3–2 scoreline. He started the next match against United States, a 1–1 draw, but he was substituted by Daniel Kome in the 65th minute, just after the United States team scored its goal. He was benched in the two next matches, a 1–1 draw against the Czech Republic. The situation did not change in the quarter-final match against Brazil, a match that Cameroon won 2–1 after extra time. He featured again in the semi-final, a 1–2 win over Chile, as he came in to replace Modeste Mbami in the 65th minute. In the final, against Spain he came in as a substitute in the 91st minute to replace Serge Branco for the extra-time. The score was 2–2 after extra-time and Cameroon finally won 5–3 in the penalty shoot-out to be named Olympic gold medallists.

2008 Africa Cup of Nations

Epalle was a starter in the opening match of the tournament for the…

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Epalle was appointed manager of French Regional club Val d'Europe FC. In September 2018 it was confirmed, that Epalle beside his manager position at Val d'Europe FC, also had been appointed the assistant manager of Cameroon national football team under newly appointed manager Clarence Seedorf alongside Patrick Kluivert and Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Epalle is married to Mari, with whom he has two daughters Marilyn and Zonti, both born in Greece and a son born in Paris. He is also a cousin of his fellow Cameroon international Timothée Atouba.