Benin's national team has encountered a series of challenges since arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a highly anticipated friendly match against the host team. The match holds significant interest globally, as it marks the potential final international appearance of Argentine star Lionel Messi. According to reports from French sports network RMC Sport, the Benin team has faced considerable logistical difficulties, including inadequate accommodation conditions.
The Benin team's issues began with a grueling 23-hour journey in economy class, which left some players and staff exhausted. The team's video analyst, Jonas Bedi, reportedly lost consciousness due to motion sickness during the flight. Furthermore, the team had to train on artificial turf, and their fitness equipment was not adequately prepared to accommodate a group of professional players.
The Benin team's preparation for the match was also disrupted by delays in the arrival of some players, including Junior Olietan of Besiktas, and Charlemagne Azongnitedo. The team's situation began to improve as the match approached, with the players' arrival and the team's logistical and medical arrangements stabilizing. This allowed the team to focus on their preparation for the match against Argentina.
The challenges faced by Benin's national team have drawn attention from various media outlets. According to reports, some team members spent over 20 hours traveling, enduring a long and tiring journey with multiple stopovers and a significant time difference. The difficulties experienced by the team have sparked concerns about their readiness for the match against Argentina.
The problems faced by Benin's team extend beyond travel and accommodation issues. There have been reports of discontent within the team due to the non-arrival of essential equipment and inadequate facilities at the hotel, including a lack of hot water and a non-functional sauna. These issues have raised questions about the team's preparation and the financial arrangements for the match.
The friendly match between Benin and Argentina is scheduled to take place on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with approximately 85,000 spectators anticipated to attend and pay tribute to Lionel Messi in what could be his final international appearance. The Argentine Football Federation is set to receive the match's revenue, while the Benin Football Federation will not receive any financial compensation.
The match between Benin and Argentina holds significant importance, not only for Messi's farewell but also for the two teams' preparations for future competitions. Despite the challenges faced by Benin's national team, they are expected to put up a strong performance against Argentina. The match will provide an opportunity for both teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses ahead of upcoming tournaments.
Key points
- Benin's national team faces logistical challenges and player fatigue ahead of friendly against Argentina
- Lionel Messi's farewell match against Benin expected to draw large crowd
- Financial arrangements for the match have sparked controversy, with Benin Football Federation not receiving any revenue
