Beaten 3-0 by Argentina in a historic sell-out encounter for Lionel Messi’s final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey, the Cheetahs of Benin delivered contrasting performances analyzed by sports observers. Below is the analysis of the sports journalists.
Chelsea Hinvi, Consultant, sports analyst: « Benin displayed two distinct faces »
« Benin displayed two distinct faces: an appealing, serene, and well-organized first half where the Cheetahs contained the Albiceleste to reach halftime on a scoreless draw, despite a lack of offensive realism and a lackluster Junior Olaïtan. After the break, the team gradually lost control of the midfield with the fading of Sessi d’Almeida and Junior Olaïtan, subduing to Argentine accelerations and goals from Nicolás Otamendi, Nico Paz, and Lionel Messi from a penalty kick. While a very great Marcel Dandjinou kept the team in the match thanks to his iron gloves, this encounter must serve to measure the group’s potential for discipline while correcting offensive efficiency. From now on, the absolute imperative is to project towards the crucial double-header in November against a pressured Central African Republic in Group F, where six points taken will validate qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations while keeping a cool head. »
Léonard Claudel Sonehekpon, Sports journalist at Bip Radio: « This unprecedented confrontation… will remain charged with intense emotions »
« This unprecedented confrontation against Lionel Messi’s Argentina will remain charged with intense emotions, marked by the strong symbols of La Pulga’s final dance, the national anthem ringing out in an 80,000-seat stadium, the presentation of the Amazon statue, and the tears of Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Albiceleste. Far from being overshadowed by this global spotlight, the Cheetahs delivered a very honorable performance in the first half thanks to tactical rigor in a low block and an imperial Marcel Dandjinou who neutralized the initial offensives, while the counter-attacks could have been more threatening with greater technical accuracy. The second half saw the Argentineans accelerate to make the difference through Otamendi, Paz, and Messi, despite the fine individual performances of Rodolfo Aloko, Tamimou Ouorou, and Saturnin Allagbé. A unique opportunity that the group fully enjoyed before having to quickly remobilize to negotiate with vigilance and efficiency the tricky November double-header against the Central African Republic. »
Dicorel Sègnon Zohou, Sports journalist at Radio Cotonou: « Benin has given itself a certain visibility… »
« Facing the 2022 World Champions and 2026 World Cup runners-up for Lionel Messi’s very last match represents an immense privilege and a unique national pride that places Benin at the center of global news thanks to media exposure. During the first forty-five minutes, the Beninese formation opposed a fierce, watertight, and collective defense, illustrated by eight decisive saves from the goalkeepers and the self-sacrifice of young talents like Rodolfo Aloko and Ouorou Yamirou. This solidity against such opposition demonstrates the vitality of national football and constitutes the result of efforts made by stakeholders, sponsors, and governmental reforms. After this fine showcase where the team made people admire its ability to compete in major fixtures, Argentina eventually found the logical flaws inherent to this level of competition. Who could have believed that Benin could play this way? And we can only congratulate them. Me particularly, I expect it. I know that Benin in big matches against major nations often shows a fine figure and that is what they demonstrated yesterday. Afterwards, it is Argentina in front, they knew how to find the necessary flaws to eventually score against the Beninese team. But globally, Benin gave itself a certain visibility by playing this match because all the major media outlets in the world aligned on this encounter. It will necessarily pay off. »
Patrice Zoundé, Journalist: « The Cheetahs did not completely fail at all »
« Living through such an unprecedented match against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in a mythical stadium felt unthinkable, especially since this historic encounter marked the ultimate appearance of the Argentine legend in the Albiceleste jersey. This planetary event placed the name and the State of Benin at the heart of all discussions and on the front pages of the world’s biggest media outlets. On the pitch, despite the final defeat by a score of three goals to nil, the Cheetahs did not completely fail at all and signed a remarkable first half, moving from an initial observation phase to bold initiatives in the opponent’s half, driven by exceptional saves from Marcel Dandjinou against Messi. A valorous and promising state of mind that foreshadows the best dispositions to tackle the rest of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. »
Firmin Kassaga, Sports journalist at Peace Fm: « …validates the continuity of the coach’s choices… »
« The Beninese team presented two contrasting faces, alternating an energetic and impactful first half, rich in impact and created chances, with a recessive second act where tactical landmarks shattered right after the early opening goal, two minutes after the restart. Facing the experience and accelerations of the Argentine armada that knew how to exploit the slightest fissure, the end of the match was delicate without a single shot on target for Benin, but several youngsters like little Yamirou Ouorou, a major surprise in an 85,000-seat arena, Rodolfo Aloko, Ouorou Tamimou, and Imourane Hassane managed to hold their own and show their full potential. This very high-level friendly match validates the continuity of coach Gernot Rohr’s choices and offers valuable benchmarks to capitalize on acquired experience, stabilize the squad, and best prepare for the two capital legs in November against the Central African Republic to validate direct qualification for the 2027 AFCON with ten points. »
Gildas Adimou, Sports reporter at Sport241/Gabon: « The time has now come for capitalization… »
« This match rich in lessons ended in a three-goal defeat against tenacious Argentines, a heavy and painful final tally given the match’s physiognomy, resulting from avoidable marking and concentration errors on the goals by Otamendi, Paz, and on the penalty caused by Ouorou Tamimou’s commitment. Yet the Cheetahs never cowered, demonstrating that they possessed quality, voluntarism, and defensive arguments to contain the Albiceleste’s assaults in the first half, while once again stumbling in their long-standing weakness: efficiency and offensive conversion in the final touch. The time has now come to capitalize on these achievements and launch a general remobilization to approach with the utmost seriousness the tricky November double-header against Central Africans cornered at zero point, in order to reap the essential six points without falling into complacency. »
Sosthène Aramis Fadaïro, Journalist, Editor-in-Chief of Océan Fm: « This life-size confrontation must urge… »
« This gala match played to a full house before eighty-five thousand spectators and followed by millions of fans for Lionel Messi’s farewells to the Albiceleste proved to be much more than a simple friendly match. Tactically, the low block scheme implemented by Gernot Rohr, combined with commitment in duels and goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou’s monumental performance, worked perfectly during a benchmark first half that made the world vice-champions doubt. However, the physical and structural rupture occurring upon returning from the locker room logically benefited a full-strength Argentina, whose squad plays in top-tier clubs, against Beninese players coming from more experimental championships and incapable of physically keeping up the pace beyond forty-five minutes. This life-size confrontation must urge the technical staff to correct structural flaws and set out to conquer new blood and fresh players to build a competitive eleven capable of assuming its ambitions in the 21st century. »
Inès Colombe Houssou, Sports journalist: « …a perfectly mastered first half »
« A final score of three goals to nil which in no way constitutes a surprise given the obvious superiority of the Argentine formation that needed to be analyzed with realism. The positive essence of this evening lies in a perfectly mastered first half during which the Beninese eleven displayed excellent tactical discipline and an airtight defensive block, symbolized by the serene and firm interventions of Marcel Dandjinou, voted favorite alongside Rodolfo Aloko, Yamirou Ouorou, and Liam Omorè. On the other hand, the second act highlights structural deficiencies and the urgent need for the technical staff to readjust midfield orchestration, a sector often nonexistent against caliber opponents when Argentina accelerates and Benin suffers too much impact. We must now come back down to earth, recover freshness, sweep away the status quo, and display clearly affirmed offensive ambitions in view of the reaction expected as early as November. »
Produced by: Karol B. Sékou (Coll)
