Kossounou and the Elephants took on the defending champions Senegal in the last 16. It finished 1-1 after 90 and then 120 minutes, meaning the tie went to a shootout. The Ivorians converted all five of their spot-kicks to win 5-4 and progress. Kossounou started the game for his first appearance at this year’s tournament, being substituted off in the 116th minute. The hosts will now face Mali in the final eight.
It was Mali who knocked out Tapsoba and Burkina Faso by winning 2-1 in the round of 16. The Werkself defender again started the match in Korhogo but unfortunately put into his own net in the third minute of the defeat. The dream of being crowned Africa’s best is also over for Adli after his Morocco side were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in San Pedro. The Bayer 04 forward made his first start of the tournament and was replaced on the hour mark.
Odilon Kossounou (Ivory Coast):
Mali vs. Ivory Coast, 3 February (18:00 CET)
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
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