Less than a week after Messi's final match for Argentina against Benin, Benin's assistant coach Tunde Adelakun spoke out in a lengthy blog post on Monday, particularly criticizing Argentina for their lack of respect towards the African team, which had been hastily invited to the testimonial match.

It was a significant historical moment, but one that left a bitter taste for the Benin team. Last week, they served as the opponent for Messi's final match with Argentina, experiencing a special night at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Coach Gernot Rohr had previously stated on RMC that the players were honored to be part of such a grand testimonial, but they were also surprised to find themselves unable to get close to the legendary player for photos or to request a jersey.

On Monday, assistant coach Tunde Adelakun published a lengthy blog post on "The African Football Club," expressing his dissatisfaction. First, the hastily arranged trip was not easy. "The journey was a full 13 hours from Paris to Buenos Aires, not to mention the 6 hours from Abidjan to Paris and the layover beforehand. To play this match, we were on the road for an entire day, traveling in three separate groups," he recalled.

A "Rather Concerning" Situation

Regarding the match itself, Tunde Adelakun described it as "important in every respect" and noted that the entire team was proud to bid farewell to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. However, the atmosphere changed after the final whistle. "What shocked me the most was that the Argentine team clearly refused any contact with my team after the match," he complained. "The handshakes at the end of the match were very hurried and devoid of emotion. Our players tried to approach the person they had traveled to celebrate, but the security guards pushed them away very forcefully. It was clear they didn't want to be in the same place as the Benin team. This was rather concerning."

He continued: "When they lined up to salute him, someone suggested our team also form a line to applaud him as he passed. The security guards quickly dispersed that small group of players with astonishing speed; it made my players look like troublemakers!"

The assistant coach then mentioned an incident he called "the final blow." During the lap of honor, Benin players stood along Messi's route, but Messi seemed to turn towards the center circle before reaching them. "For someone so admired by many, almost impeccable in the hearts of many young Africans, this was another blow," he lamented. He concluded: "Respect should be mutual. In football, we respect each other."

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