Head coach Rohr laments Argentina's treatment of Benin after Messi farewell

[p]The Cheetahs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/benin-tKuIoRxU/?mid=E5j2p2At"]lost 3-0[/a] to the three-time World Cup winners in Tuesday's friendly at the Estadio Monumental, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/otamendi-nicolas/KSBVnX8R/"]Nicolas Otamendi[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-martinez-nicolas/GG6EYRT0/"]Nico Paz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] scoring the goals.[/p][p]However, Rohr was unhappy with how his players were treated after the match, claiming they were not allowed to approach the Argentine players or exchange shirts with them.[/p][p]The Africans had hoped to take home jerseys as souvenirs of the historic occasion, but their requests were reportedly turned down, leaving them disappointed.[/p][p][b]"We are very happy to make history, especially for a great football man like Lionel Messi, and to play this match at the Monumental, it was an extraordinary adventure for my young players,"[/b] Rohr told Rothen s'enflamme on [a href="https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/matchs-amicaux/personne-n-a-reussi-a-prendre-son-maillot-gernot-rohr-raconte-la-soiree-historique-du-benin-avec-messi_AV-202610070787.html" target="_blank"]RMC.[/a][/p][embed guid="6e41f7ee-1a08-4e6d-9542-4a81c09a7b33" url="https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2108173438279946506" social-type="twitter" /][p]"The only dark spot is that the Argentinians didn't give anything to our players. Not even a photo with Messi.[/p][p][b]"We wanted to swap jerseys, but we didn't get one. They wouldn't even let us in their hallway and security refused everyone. [/b][/p][p]"Players came with their jerseys to swap with others, not even with Messi but others ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] players), but they wouldn't. [/p][p][b]"We knew it'd be tough. My player Tijani, who loves Messi, gave him a red rose before the match plus an Amazon gift from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benin/tKuIoRxU/"]Benin[/a]. [/b][/p][p]"We tried everything, even a bouquet in Benin's colours (red, yellow, green), but nothing worked."[/p][h2]Rohr finds consolation in Scaloni's gesture[/h2][p]Despite the disappointment, Rohr managed to take home a special souvenir from the match.[/p][p]The German coach waited for more than 30 minutes after the final whistle before approaching La Albiceleste’s camp.[/p][p]He revealed that Argentina coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Lionel Scaloni[/a] eventually signed an old Messi shirt he had brought along.[/p][p][b]"I was able to give my Messi shirt from 2018 (I had after a game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nigeria/EBE2Xb3l/"]Nigeria[/a] at the World Cup) to the coach (Lionel Scaloni)," [/b]he continued.[/p][p]"He signed it and gave it back to me. I waited half an hour but it's ok. It was an unforgettable evening.[/p][p][b]“It was a fantastic experience, and there was no pressure. The result was not our main concern. [/b][/p][p]“For us, the most important thing was to learn and give our young players valuable international experience they could never have imagined having one day.”[/p][p]Benin will now turn their attention to November's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against the Central African Republic.[/p][p]Having beaten [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mauritania/Q5QPxhPn/"]Mauritania[/a] and drawn with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/burkina-faso/bJOXzWga/"]Burkina Faso[/a], the West Africans currently lead Group F with four points.[/p][p]The Cheetahs will be hoping to maintain their strong start and secure qualification for the 2027 tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.[/p]