Casablanca – Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has criticized the treatment his players received following Lionel Messi’s farewell match with Argentina. He claimed they were unable to secure photos or exchange shirts with their opponents after the final whistle.
Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in Messi’s final appearance for the national team. The 39-year-old scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists during an emotional night attended by more than 85,000 supporters.
Speaking to RMC’s Rothen s’enflamme, Rohr said his squad had hoped to take home souvenirs from a night that carried unusual significance beyond the result.
“The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing,” he said. “No photo with Messi, no shirt. They didn’t even let us into the tunnel, nor even the dressing room.”
Rohr said security restrictions prevented Benin’s players from approaching the Argentine dressing room, despite several of them hoping to exchange shirts.
“Some players came to swap shirts, so we knew it would be difficult. We tried everything, but we got nothing,” he added.
The German coach did manage to secure one personal souvenir. Rohr said he passed an Argentina shirt from 2018 to Lionel Scaloni, who arranged for Messi to sign it before returning it to him.
Read also: The Night Argentina Had to Say Goodbye to Lionel Messi
The frustration did not overshadow Benin’s overall experience in Buenos Aires.
Rohr described playing at the Monumental on Messi’s farewell night as a memorable opportunity for his younger players.
Benin had travelled to Argentina during the October international window with Rohr already acknowledging the unusual circumstances surrounding the match. Before kickoff, he said his team intended to compete despite the occasion being centered heavily on Messi’s goodbye.
Messi finished his Argentina career with 208 appearances and 126 goals across 21 years. His final night also included assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz before he converted Argentina’s third from the penalty spot.
Rohr nevertheless maintained that the match itself had been a positive experience for Benin, describing it as an opportunity his players were unlikely to forget despite leaving Buenos Aires without the souvenirs they had hoped for.
