Serie: Topps Match Attax 2024/2025
Type: Basic
Number: 193
Edmond Fayçal Tapsoba, born on 2 February 1999, is a Burkinabé footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen and the Burkina Faso national team.
Growing up in the Karpala section of Ouagadougou, Tapsoba’s early life was filled with street football games, where he often skipped school to play. It wasn’t until the age of fourteen that he began playing organized football. His journey into professional football began with Salitas, followed by stints at US Ouagadougou, Leixões, and Vitória de Guimarães B and A teams. Represented by former Portugal international Deco, Tapsoba’s rise was swift.
On 31 January 2020, Tapsoba signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen for €18 million plus €7 million in potential add-ons. His impact was immediate, scoring his first Bundesliga goal in a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against FC Augsburg on 21 February 2021. This goal extended Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak against Augsburg to twenty matches.
Tapsoba’s international career began in 2016 with the Burkina Faso national team. In December 2021, he was selected for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals. Tapsoba’s performances earned him a spot in the tournament’s best eleven alongside teammate Blati Touré. He was again included in the squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Known for his speed, strength, passing ability, and composure, Tapsoba has often been compared to Jérôme Boateng. His skillset includes a remarkable ability to score from the penalty spot. He draws inspiration from players like John Stones, Per Mertesacker, and Virgil van Dijk.
Off the field, Tapsoba demonstrated his commitment to his community by donating masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer to a market in Ouagadougou during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With his impressive performances at Bayer Leverkusen and his leadership on the international stage, Tapsoba continues to be a standout player, embodying the qualities of a modern centre-back.
