Argentina’s Messi farewell overshadowed by fresh logistical problems before Benin match

Argentina will face Benin in unusual circumstances on Tuesday, 6 October, with the match coming after midnight and Lionel Messi set to make his final appearance for the national team at Buenos Aires’ Monumental stadium earlier that day.

The fixture follows a turbulent international break for Argentina, whose 4-0 victory over Bolivia initially passed without significant reaction. The mood changed after their subsequent 7-0 win against Burkina Faso, which was played in highly controversial conditions.

Burkina Faso fielded a much-changed side, including players aged under 23, after travel arrangements organised by the Argentine Football Association created problems. The visitors had travelled on a low-cost flight and had not received any bonus, leading to the unexpected changes to their team.

The Burkina Faso squad arrived in Argentina only three hours before kick-off and had no opportunity to recover from the long journey. The circumstances contributed to a far wider scoreline than had been expected, prompting strong criticism from the Argentine press, which described the events as a scandal.

A similar situation now threatens to overshadow the meeting with Benin, according to Foot Mercato.

The African side encountered a series of difficulties before the game, with the facilities provided for the squad falling well below professional standards. There was no hot water for the players at their hotel, while the sauna was out of order and the available equipment was insufficient.

Benin’s training ground also had an artificial surface, while the gym was considered unsuitable for a professional team. The squad additionally endured a 23-hour journey in economy class, during which sports analyst Jonas Bede lost consciousness.

The team was also without several players, including Junior Olaitan of Besiktas, Charlemagne Azongnitode of TPS and Sahid Ngoubi of VPS.

Conditions have since improved and the situation has gradually returned to normal. However, the preparations have still proved difficult for Benin and the problems will do little to improve Argentina’s reputation ahead of a match attracting worldwide attention.

Argentina’s overwhelming results against Bolivia and Burkina Faso have therefore been accompanied by growing concern over the organisation surrounding their fixtures. The latest issues come as attention focuses on Messi’s farewell, with the captain due to represent Argentina for the final time at the Monumental before the meeting with Benin.