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21.12.2025Bayer 04

Africa Cup of Nations: Four Leverkusen players involved, Ben Seghir opens with hosts Morocco

The Werkself may have the festive season off, but four players will still be in action as they compete at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Eliesse Ben Seghir will open the 35th edition of the tournament with hosts Morocco on Sunday, 21 December. Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) and Christian Kofane (Cameroon) are also going for continental glory.
Ibrahim Maza, Edmond Tapsoba, Eliesse Ben Seghir und Christian Kofane

Among the match-ups over the next four weeks in North Africa are a Bayer 04 clash between Tapsoba’s Burkina Faso and Maza’s Algeria in Group E on Sunday, 28 December.

AFCON fixtures for Bayer 04 players (times in CET):

Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco - Group A):

  • Sunday, 21 December (20:00): Morocco vs. Comoros
  • Friday, 26 December (21:00): Morocco vs. Mali
  • Monday, 29 December (20:00): Zambia vs. Morocco

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso - Group E):

  • Wednesday, 24 December (13:30): Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea
  • Sunday, 28 December (18:30): Algeria vs. Burkina Faso
  • Wednesday, 31 December (17:00): Sudan vs. Burkina Faso

Ibrahim Maza (Algeria - Group E):

  • Wednesday, 24 December (16:00): Algeria vs. Sudan
  • Sunday, 28 December (18:30): Algeria vs. Burkina Faso
  • Wednesday, 31 December (17:00): Equatorial Guinea vs. Algeria

Christian Kofane (Cameroon - Group F):

  • Wednesday, 24 December (21:00): Cameroon vs. Gabon
  • Sunday, 28 December (21:00): Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon
  • Wednesday, 31 December (20:00): Mozambique vs. Cameroon

The top two from the six groups of four, together with the four best-placed third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16, to be played from 3 to 6 January.

Should any players progress to the quarter-finals (9-10 January), they will miss the Werkself’s return to competitive action at home to VfB Stuttgart on 10 January (18:30). The semi-finals will be played on 14 January, the third-place play-off on 17 January and the final on 18 January. Leverkusen players who go beyond the quarters will also miss the Bundesliga encounters at Hamburg (13 January) and Hoffenheim (17 January).

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