Benin coach Gernot Rohr has revealed his team’s frustration after security restrictions prevented the players from meeting Lionel Messi following their international friendly against Argentina.
The match, which Argentina won 3-0, was dominated by celebrations surrounding Messi’s final appearance for the national team. For Benin’s players, however, the occasion ended on a disappointing note as their attempts to meet the Argentina captain and exchange shirts were unsuccessful.
Speaking on French radio programme Rothen s’enflamme, Rohr said his players had hoped to take advantage of the historic occasion but were denied access to the Argentina camp.
“Yes, it was extremely difficult. We tried. The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing. No photo with Messi, no shirt,” Rohr said.
According to the German coach, Benin’s players and officials were stopped by security personnel when they attempted to enter the tunnel and approach Argentina’s dressing room.
The restrictions came despite some Argentina players initially making efforts to exchange shirts with their Benin counterparts.
“Security refused to let anyone in. Some players came to swap shirts, so we knew it would be difficult. We tried everything, but we got nothing,” Rohr added.
Benin had also prepared a special gesture for Messi. Rohr said his team wanted to present the Argentine star with a bouquet featuring Benin’s national colours — yellow, red and green.
That attempt also failed, leaving the coach to look for another way to mark Messi’s farewell.
Rohr eventually managed to secure a personal memento from the occasion after handing Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni a Messi shirt from 2018.
Scaloni reportedly took the shirt to Messi, who signed it before returning it through his coach.
“I gave Messi’s 2018 shirt to coach Scaloni, who got him to sign it for me and then returned it to me, but that was all,” Rohr said.
While Argentina’s 3-0 victory provided a memorable setting for Messi’s farewell, Rohr’s comments highlighted the disappointment among the Benin camp, whose players had hoped for a closer interaction with one of football’s most celebrated figures.
