Benin coach Rohr slams Argentina for snubbing team during Messi farewell
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr condemned Argentina and Lionel Messi for snubbing his players during Messi’s international farewell match in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, which Argentina won 3-0. Rohr said his team tried to take photos, exchange jerseys and gain tunnel access, but were rebuffed by Argentine players and security, receiving nothing in return despite their efforts. He noted that he gave Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni a Messi shirt from the 2018 World Cup, which Scaloni arranged to be signed and returned to him, while a bouquet in Benin’s national colours—yellow, red and green—had no effect.
The incident matters because it highlights a perceived lack of sportsmanship toward African sides in high-profile friendlies, potentially affecting team morale and the image of continental football. For Nigerian fans who regularly see their teams invited to similar exhibitions, the episode raises questions about how visiting sides are treated and whether such gestures are genuine or one‑sided.
What should you know or do? Recognise that Rohr still walked away with a signed Messi shirt as a personal keepsake, showing that limited goodwill can be extracted even amid snubs. Consider advocating for mutual respect in future invitations, and reflect on whether African teams should set clearer expectations for hospitality and reciprocity when accepting such honours. Will African sides continue to accept one‑sided treatment, or should they demand genuine camaraderie in future friendlies?