Bundesliga at AFCON: Tapsoba makes CAF’s group stage Best XI

Edmond Tapsoba is included in CAF’s team for the group stage.

The 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations will resume on Saturday with the start of the knockout stage. A day earlier, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the best team of the group stage.

Nine Bundesliga representatives found the net during the group stage, but Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba is the only German-based player in the selected team. Bayer Leverkusen’s center-back started his campaign with a decisive goal in Burkina Faso’s injury-time win over Equatorial Guinea.

The 26-year-old also played 90 minutes in the Stallions’ duels against Algeria and Sudan. Tapsoba’s next assignment will be stopping Yan Dimoande and Bazoumana Touré as Burkina Faso will be in action against Côte d’Ivoire in the closing fixture of the Round of 16 on Tuesday.

Ex-Bayern Munich players Noussair Mazraoui and Sadio Mané also made the cut. Only the hosts Morocco have two players in the CAF selection.

AFCON Team of the group stage

Ahmed El Shenawy (Egypt); Ali Abdi (Tunisia), Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco); Carlos Baleba (Cameroon), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Brahim Díaz (Morocco); Sadio Mané (Senegal), Amad (Côte d’Ivoire), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)