Benin validated its qualification for the final phase of CAN 2025 in Morocco, after the draw (0-0) obtained on Monday in Libya. But the Cheetahs, and in particular the technical staff, were attacked after the meeting. Gernot Rohr, the Franco-German coach, testifies exclusively for Afrik-Foot.
At the end of Tuesday afternoon, the plane specially chartered by the Beninese government to repatriate the national team from Tripoli landed on the tarmac of Cotonou international airport. Still marked by the events of the day before and lhell experienced in LibyaGernot Rohr, the coach franco-German, in cold anger, agreed to mention them.
Interview conducted by Alexis Billebault
How are you after these difficult hours experienced at the June 11 Stadium in Tripoli on Monday evening?
A little better, because we are now safe in Cotonou. With everything that happened Monday evening, the government of Benign made the decision to charter a special plane to pick us up. Initially, many players and members of the technical staff had to take flights, notably from Turkish Airlines, to return to their clubs or home. But no one was really reassured about the idea of leaving the hotel to go to the airport. This is why the Beninese authorities sent a plane to bring everyone back to Cotonou, from where everyone can safely leave.
“Members of the staff received blows from police officers and Libyan players”
Tell us what you experienced on Monday…
Before the match, everything had gone pretty well. In terms of reception and customs formalities, there was nothing to complain about. Of course, the day before the match, we were promised to provide us with balls for training identical to the one used for the match, but we never saw them and we trained with ours.
Before kick-off, our anthem was whistled, and even though I don't understand Arabic, we understood that part of the public was only insulting us. And there were projectiles thrown towards the sidelines. During the match, the players Libyans showed a lot of commitment, put pressure on the referees, who showed, I would like to point out, a lot of character. We're going to say that we expected all of this, but not what happened next.
Did things escalate quickly?
Yes. We had just gotten this draw qualifying us for the CAN in Morocco. We would have liked to savor this performance, but we didn't have the time. Upon returning to the locker room, new projectiles, including water bottles, were thrown by spectators. Then members of the technical staff were attacked by Libyans, notably our video analyst Tunisian. He was chased, in particular by the Libyan coach (Nasser Al-Hadhiri, editor's note), and beaten by individuals. Then we managed to lock ourselves in our locker room for almost two hours, while things calmed down, but outside, it was still hot, we could hear the insults.
What happened on the bus that was supposed to take you back to your hotel?
Before getting on the bus, on the path leading from the locker rooms to this vehicle, the attacks resumed, members of our staff were beaten, by police officers, but also by Libyan substitute players.
“Hit by police officers who were there to protect us”
These same police officers who distributed baton blows when you were on the bus…
I don't know if they were the same ones, but several police officers got on the front of the bus, very aggressive. As I was sitting in the front row, I got hit on the arm with a baton. Then other members of the technical staff were hit, including Enrico Pionetti, the goalkeeping coach, who received a blow to the head. One of our security personnel was also targeted. It lasted a few minutes, but I can tell you it was very long. In total, four people were hit and injured by police officers who, I remind you, were there to protect us. It's truly scandalous.
“We cannot play in a country where there is no security”
What was the attitude of the CAF match commissioner?
This gentleman, a Sudanesewas lousy. He was totally committed to the Libyan cause.
What do you expect from CAF, knowing that before Benin, the CameroonNigeria and Rwanda had encountered various and varied problems?
I hope that there will be a report and an investigation to punish these unacceptable acts. It is not normal that international matches can be played in a country where there is no security! We were attacked gratuitously, even though there was never the slightest provocation on our part. I hope that the CAF will react severely, because if nothing is done, other selections risk experiencing the same thing as us! We are all marked, even though we have just come to play a football match.
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