Back
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.
crop_20220117_Tapsoba_Nationalmannschaft.jpg

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.

Related News

Foto: Dustin Buck (Mitte) mit Kim Falkenberg (Direktor Fußball/r.) und Bernd Korzynietz (Leiter Kaderplanung Jugend/l.).V.l.: Bernd Korzynietz (Head of Recruitment Youth), Jonah Berghoff und Kim Falkenberg (Direktor Fußball)
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Bayer 04 award Jonah Berghoff professional contract

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.

Show more
Grafik Wahl Spieler der Saison
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Vote now for your 2025/26 Player of the Season

With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.

Show more
Grafik Wahl Spielerin der Saison
Women - 29.05.2026

Women: Vote now for your 2025/26 Player of the Season

With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.

Show more
Thomas Helmer, Reiner Calmund, Rüdiger Vollborn und Simon Rolfes
Bayer 04 - 29.05.2026

Rolfes and Vollborn on Calmund show

The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.

Show more