Akpunonu went to high school at St. John's Jesuit High School, where he was a three-year letter winner. He played college soccer with the Bowling Green Falcons from 2020 to 2022, where he received 2022 Academic All-America First Team honors in his final year.[3] In the summers, he played with USL League Two side Toledo Villa.[4] In December 2022, he was one of 44 players invited to the 2022 adidas MLS College Showcase.[5] He was drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on December 2, 2022, by FC Cincinnati.[6] First assigned to their reserves, he made his professional debut with FC Cincinnati in a 1–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Louisville City FC on April 27, 2023.[7]
Akpunonu is of Nigerian descent.[8] He studied biology at Bowling Green State University, and intends to become a doctor, like his father (Basil Akpunonu),[9] mother (Elizabeth Hoffman),[10] and brother (Peter Akpunonu).[11]).[3] He had a 4.0 grade-point average, and was named to an 11-man Academic All-America First Team just prior to leaving Bowling Green State University.[2]