Benin has been chosen as Argentina's opponent for Lionel Messi's national team farewell match, scheduled for 7/10 at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. For Benin defender Tijani Mohamed, this represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he is determined to savor every moment without reservation.
"We are happy to be part of Messi's last game," Mohamed told Argentina's Ole on 5/10. "Before coming here, we knew Messi, the greatest player in the world, mostly through media reports. For me, this will be a very special match. Benin truly doesn't need to prepare any tactics for this game; we are here solely to enjoy it. Just enjoy it to the fullest!"
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Benin player Tijani Mohamed during an interview with Argentina's Ole on 5/10 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Ole |
Benin player Tijani Mohamed during an interview with Argentina's Ole on 5/10 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Ole
Born in Ivory Coast to a Beninese father and Ivorian mother, Mohamed chose to represent his father's national team. His career includes playing for Rayo Vallecano B in Europe, and for Czech clubs Slavia Praha and Viktoria Plzen. The 29-year-old defender is so excited about the upcoming match that he has sworn to his mother that he will obtain Messi's legendary number 10 jersey.
When an Ole reporter asked if the Benin team members had an agreement on who would swap jerseys with the Argentine superstar, Mohamed confidently stated: "I will definitely be the one to get that jersey, I swear to my mother! I will tell him: 'Messi, look, I really idolize you, please give me your jersey.' That's it!"
Mohamed also anticipates a festive atmosphere at the stadium, believing it will be more than just a football match. He reiterated his focus on enjoying the game. "Everything will be great, you will see. Our job is to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere with all the fans," the center-back born in 1997 affirmed.
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Messi in a special national team farewell jersey designed by adidas and unveiled on 22/9. Photo: adidas |
Messi in a special national team farewell jersey designed by adidas and unveiled on 22/9. Photo: adidas
Prior to the match, some sources, including the online newspaper Goal, reported significant disruptions concerning the Benin team's travel and accommodation in Argentina. The long flight from West Africa to Buenos Aires reportedly exhausted team members, with one Benin video analyst even fainting.
The same sources claimed Benin also complained about the dilapidated hotel assigned to the players, which allegedly lacked a gym. One floor of the hotel reportedly had no hot water, and the sauna was broken and unusable.
However, Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou personally refuted these reports, stating they were entirely false. "We haven't encountered any problems; everything in Buenos Aires is fine," he told Spain's Marca. "Actually, our living and training conditions are very good."
