Tapsoba and Burkina Faso faced Mauritiana in their first match in Group D. It looked for a long time like being an opening draw, but Aston Villa's Bertrand Traoré snatched the three points with a penalty in the 96th minute. The points were then shared against Algeria, with a last-minute goal again deciding the outcome - although this time in favour of the Algerians, who made it 2-2 in stoppage time. In their last group encounter, Burkina Faso lost 2-0 to Angola, meaning they finished second in Group D with four points. Tapsoba played every minute of all three games.
Morocco started the tournament with a 3-0 win against Tanzania. Adli came on in the 71st minute of the Group F opener with the score at 1-0, and set up the second goal for Azzedine Ounahi shortly after. In their second match, the North Africans had to settle for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, with Adli again being introduced in the latter stages. Morocco sealed top spot in the group with a 1-0 victory against Zambia, with Adli coming on at half-time.
The host nation are also in the last 16. A 2-0 win over Guinea in the opening match of the tournament proved to be enough, despite subsequent 1-0 and 4-0 defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. Kossounou watched all three games from the bench. Ivory Coast progressed to the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed sides.
The last-16 ties will be played from Saturday to Tuesday (27-30 January). Tapsoba and Burkina Faso take on Mali, while Kossounou and Ivory Coast are up against Senegal. Should both win, the two Leverkusen centre-backs will then come up against each other in the quarter-finals. Adli and Morocco, meanwhile, face South Africa.
The quarter-finals will take place on 2 and 3 February, the semi-finals on 7 February. After the third-place playoff on 10 February, the final will be played the next day at 21:00 CET.
THE ROUND OF 16 AT A GLANCE (all times CET)
Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast):
29.01, 21:00: Senegal v Ivory Coast
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso):
30.01, 18:00: Mali v Burkina Faso
Amine Adli (Morocco):
30.01, 21:00: Morocco v South Africa
Argentina’s success at the U20 World Cup in Chile continues. The junior Albiceleste, with Bayer 04 player Alejo Sarco in the starting XI, beat Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Sunday night. Colombia, who knocked out Spain, now await in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
Show moreFollowing the derby at FC Köln being abandoned, the Bayer 04 Women are away again on Bundesliga matchday 6. Roberto Pätzold's team will face TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday (16:00 CEST, Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion) . The Werkself will be aiming for their fifth consecutive win against the team currently lying third in the table.
Show moreContribute to a good cause and win something special! The Bayer 04 jersey competition is entering its third round: From 10 October and up to and including 29 November, raffle tickets can be purchased for five euros each at the Fanwelt on the south side of the BayArena for the chance to win one of two signed away jerseys. The proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Tafel Leverkusen e.V. as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations.
Show moreHeads up, girls! Do you dream of wearing the Bayer Cross on your chest? To play in black and red like your role models Carlotta Wamser, Kristin Kögel, Friederike Repohl and Co. from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga? Then take your chance now. Our female youth teams are once again on the lookout for new talent. That's why Bayer 04 is organising trials for female junior players on 26 October 2025 for the second time this year.
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