Benin national team coach Gernot Rohr has publicly criticized the country's football governing body, revealing that some of his players had to pay for their own flights on their recent trip to South Africa.
On 20 March 2025, Benin faced Zimbabwe in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
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The match was held in South Africa because Zimbabwe, the designated home team, does not have a CAF- and FIFA-approved venue within its borders.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams sharing the points. However, it has now emerged that there was significant tension behind the scenes in the Benin camp during their visit to South Africa.
Rohr has voiced his frustration over the logistical challenges his team faced on the trip to Durban, directing criticism at the Benin Football Federation for what he described as a disorganized and difficult journey.
Speaking on the Benin national broadcaster BIP Radio Cotonou, the German explained: "Some players had to buy their own tickets because the ticket was not validated. They arrived at the counter, and the ticket was not valid, so they had to pay for it themselves – Yohan Roche, Andreas Hountondji.
"Some tickets arrived 24 hours before, but others only at the very last minute. We have a real problem with travel organisation. If you want to play in a World Cup – I was fortunate to do it with Nigeria – you need good travel conditions. It all starts there.
"We ourselves had a 24-hour journey across Africa in economy class, even though my contract states premium, which was not respected.
"This is not the first time. But it's not a big deal. I'm 1.76m tall; I can fit in a small seat, it doesn't bother me. But 26 hours of travel… 4 hours of waiting in Addis Ababa, 6.5 hours overnight in Johannesburg before taking the flight to Durban. Honestly, President…"
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta