Akpembe scored the winning goal in the final match of the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Sunday, ending a seven-month drought for foreign players who had not found the back of the net.
The Nigerian forward scored with just under 20 minutes left in the game, providing the decisive blow as his side secured a 1-0 victory over Beijing Guoan.
It was a much-needed win for the Shanghai Shenhua team, who have struggled to find goals this season and were without their usual attacking threat from overseas.
Akpembe's goal came after he had been brought on as a substitute in the second half, and it proved to be the turning point of the match.
Despite being down to ten men for most of the second half, the Shenhua defense held firm, thanks in part to Akpembe's leadership and defensive prowess.
With the win, Shanghai Shenhua moved up to fourth place in the league table, while Beijing Guoan dropped to seventh.
The victory also marked a return to form for Akpembe, who has struggled with injuries and form this season.
However, he showed that he is still capable of making a difference on the pitch, scoring when it mattered most.
Overall, Akpembe's goal was a much-needed boost for his team, and it will hopefully inspire them to continue performing at a high level in the coming weeks and months.