In the national team of the West African state with a population of around 23 million, Edmond Tapsoba has been an undisputed first choice for years. The Leverkusen player, who won the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal double plus the Supercup with the Werkself in the summer, has only missed one of the last 14 international fixtures – a friendly against Niger. He has played the full 90 minutes in every game. To date Tapsoba has won 47 caps for his country and scored one goal.
Tapsoba, under the Cross since January 2020, is also a regular starter at Bayer 04: He was in the starting line-up in eleven of the last twelve matches and was only substituted once.
The other nominations for the African Player of the Year are: Amine Gouiri (Stade Rennes/Algeria), Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion/Ivory Coast), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique Marseille/DR Congo), Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund/Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/Morocco), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain FC/Morocco), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta Bergamo/Nigeria), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood/Nigeria), Ronwen Williams (Sundowns/South Africa).
Away from football, Tapsoba has primarily done a lot for the people in his home country. In the summer he formed the ‘Fondation Edmond Tapsoba’ in Burkina Faso. The foundation based in Ouagadougou has the target of sustainably supporting people in different areas of life. The main focus is on measures for disadvantaged children, older people, the homeless, victims of violence, people with serious illnesses, refugees and people with disabilities.
Tapsoba spoke to bayer04.de a while ago about his motivation, his targets and desires for his project. HERE is the interview.
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