Gernot Rohr teases Amir Abdou over Steve Mounie ‘secret’ before Burkina Faso v Benin

Gernot Rohr has accused Benin manager Amir Abdou of revealing a private conversation ahead of Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying match between Burkina Faso and Benin.

The Burkina Faso manager said information shared between colleagues should have remained confidential after Abdou disclosed that Rohr had told him Steve Mounie would miss the Group F opener.

Burkina Faso host Benin at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou on Friday, with kick-off at 19h GMT (20h local time). The group also includes Mauritania and the Central African Republic.

The two managers are regarded as friends, having spoken before their squads were announced. But when Abdou named his Benin squad on 17 September, he said Rohr had already informed him that Mounie would be unavailable.

At that stage, Rohr had not yet published his own squad, prompting discussion in the Beninese media about whether he should have shared details about one of his key players with an impending opponent.

Mounie, the Guepards captain, was subsequently confirmed as absent from the fixture. Olivier Verdon will also miss the match.

Rohr made clear in his pre-match news conference that he had not forgotten Abdou’s decision to make their conversation public.

“I know the opposing coach. We exchanged a few words. I believe he told you about it, which is something I would not have done,” Rohr said with a smile.

“When we speak as colleagues, it should remain between colleagues. I will tease him a little about it tomorrow.”

The exchange appears unlikely to damage the relationship between the two managers, but Rohr’s position was clear: a confidence shared between national-team coaches should not become a subject for a press conference.

The light-hearted dispute adds an extra element to an important match for both sides. Burkina Faso will play the Central African Republic in Casablanca on 28 September, while Benin will host Mauritania the following day in their second group game.

The teams are also familiar with one another. Burkina Faso defeated Benin in a friendly meeting in November 2025.

For the Guepards, who reached the last 16 at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, securing a result in Ouagadougou would represent a strong start to their qualifying campaign.

Before the competitive action begins, Rohr will meet Abdou again. Judging by his comments, their first exchange is likely to begin with some friendly teasing over the “secret” of Mounie’s absence.