News in brief: Tapsoba and Co. reach AFCON Round of 16

A big success for our number 12 in his first Africa Cup of Nations finals: Edmond Tapsoba has reached the last 16 of the tournament with Burkina Faso. Tapsoba and Co. played Ethiopia on Monday evening in the third and final match in Group A. Thanks to a 1-1 draw against the bottom team on no points, Burkina Faso finished runners-up and are through to the Round of 16. The Werkself player was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as in the second group match.

The Round of 16 tie is on Sunday, 23 January (kick-off: 17.00 CET). Tapsoba and his teammates will play the team finishing second in Group C, with matchday three still to be played, in the south Cameroonian city of Limbe. Morocco are top of the group with six points followed by Gabon (4) and Ghana (1). Comoros, bottom with no points, have no chance of finishing second.

Duo back on the pitch

Julian Baumgartlinger and Charles Aránguiz are continuing to make progress: The holding midfielders worked individually with rehab coach Daniel Jouvin on Tuesday morning. Baumi and Charly completed a range of fitness and passing drills.

Jeremie Frimpong was also involved in full training. The right-back was substituted with slight muscle problems on 56 minutes in the Bundesliga match at Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-1). He was replaced by Timothy Fosu-Mensah making his comeback to the first team after more than 300 days on the sidelines.

Absent from the training ground on Tuesday were Moussa Diaby and Nadiem Amiri as they worked individually in the facilities at the BayArena.

Hradecky on Lunev: "like a shoulder to lean on"

Werkself skipper Lukas Hradecky faced the media on Tuesday afternoon. Fielding questions from journalists, the keeper talked about the next home game against FC Augsburg on Saturday 22 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET) as well as currently injured fellow goalkeeper Andrey Lunev.

The Russian keeper suffered a torn ankle ligament in training on Sunday and he will undergo an operation in the next few days. "I feel very sorry for Andrey. I was upset when I heard the news. He's a great bloke," said the Finland international about his teammate. The 32-year-old particularly values the cooperation as a strong unit between the posts: "We often have great discussions. He's like a shoulder to lean on for me and a great support. I hope he recovers quickly."

Augsburg game: "Nothing against a clean sheet"

Hradecky describes the last away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach as an important sign: "I can get over it if somebody misses up front or doesn't deal well with a counter-attack. But much more important are characteristics like being willing to fight and unconditional determination. We showed that attitude and it was incredibly important."

The shot-stopper feels good about the forthcoming match against Augsburg: "We have enough quality to be effective up front and score goals and, at the same time, defend at the back. Recent performance certainly give me hope." The Werkself number one also has a very clear idea regarding the result at the BayArena on Saturday evening: "I have nothing against it if we can have another clean sheet against FCA," said the Finland international with a smile on his face.

Happy birthday

Robin Becker joined the Werkself at the age of 11 in 2008. After seven years in the youth teams, the homegrown player signed professional contract and he went out on loan to second division FC Heidenheim a year later. The Solingen-born player moved on from there to Eintracht Braunschweig and Becker has been at Dynamo Dresden since the summer of 2020. Up to now, he has made 34 second division and 67 the division appearances. The former Leverkusen player today celebrates his 25th birthday – many happy returns.