Edmond Tapsoba could barely hide his emotions after dragging Burkina Faso to one of their most dramatic victories in recent AFCON history.
The defender, named TotalEnergies Man of the Match, had just thundered in the 98th-minute winner to complete a breathtaking comeback against Equatorial Guinea, who had led despite playing with ten men. Moments earlier, substitute György Menongo had sparked hope with a 95th-minute equaliser, turning despair into belief inside the Mohammed V Stadium.
“I feel great joy after this victory. We did not give up after going behind; we scored two goals and won the match. I’m happy with what is happening to us in this tournament.” Tapsoba said his team’s mentality underpinned the turnaround, adding: “We believed we could come back in the game, and it is in our nature not to stop or lose belief when we are trailing or facing defeat.”
For him, the night was not about individual glory. Calling the award a product of collective effort, he said: “This Man of the Match award is the result of collective work by our entire team, and I dedicate it to all the members of the Burkina Faso national team.”
