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24.01.2022Bayer 04

AFCON: Tapsoba and Co. progress to the quarter-finals

Burkina Faso, with Werkself player Edmond Tapsoba in the line-up, went through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations at the end of a truly thrilling football encounter. As there were no winners in the knockout clash with Gabon, both at the end of normal time as well as after extra time, it came down to a penalty shootout – fortunately it ended well for Tapsoba and Co. Our number 12 played the whole game and also comfortably converted his penalty.
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Burkina Faso were in the Round of 16 as group runners-up where they faced Gabon who also finished second in their group. In the Cameroonian city of Limbe, Tapsoba’s teammate Bertrand Traore – who used to play for Chelsea in England – missed a penalty early on (18'). The same player then opened the scoring for Burkina Faso. As a strike by Gabon was ruled out just before half-time following the intervention of VAR, they took the lead into the break.

The chances of winning increased for Tapsoba and Co-in the middle of the second half when a Gabon player was shown a second yellow card. However, they conceded a late equaliser in added time – leading to extra time. No more goals were scored. The Leverkusen central defender converted his penalty as the third taker and the game ended with a much celebrated 7-6 victory. Congratulations, Eddy.

In the quarter-finals, Burkina Faso face Tunisia, including FC Köln player Ellyes Skhiri, who surprisingly beat Nigeria 1-0. The match on Saturday, 29 January kicks off at 20.00 CET. The streaming service DAZN will broadcast the match live.

Kossounou against Salah and Co.

And the second Bayer 04 player to start in the Africa Cup of Nations is also still in the competition: Odilon Kossounou with the Ivory Coast play their Round of 16 tie on Wednesday, 26 January (kick-off: 17.00 CET – also live on DAZN). They are up against record winners Egypt including Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.

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