Benin defender Mohamed Tijani swears on his mother’s life to get Messi’s shirt

Benin defender Mohamed Tijani is relishing the opportunity to face Lionel Messi when the Cheetahs take on Argentina in an international friendly on October 7 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Tijani has been included in Gernot Rohr’s squad for the highly anticipated encounter and is looking forward to what promises to be a memorable experience against the reigning world champions.

For the Benin international, however, the occasion goes beyond simply facing one of the strongest teams in world football. Tijani is particularly excited about the prospect of sharing the pitch with Messi, whom he regards as the best player in the world.

The defender has already set himself a personal target for the encounter — securing Messi’s shirt at the end of the game.

“I’ve been called up to face Argentina in Messi’s farewell match. We don’t even need to prepare for this match. We just want to enjoy it. That’s all,” Tijani said.

“Believe me, I’ll be leaving with Messi’s shirt. I swear on my mother’s life.

“I’ll go up to him and say: ‘Messi, look: I love you so much, give me your shirt. Messi is the best player in the world.”

Tijani’s comments underline the excitement surrounding the fixture, particularly for players who will get the chance to face the Argentine superstar on one of football’s biggest stages.

While Benin will be looking to compete strongly against Argentina, Tijani is determined to enjoy the occasion and make the most of the rare opportunity to play against a player he has admired throughout his career.

The match at the Monumental is therefore expected to be a special occasion for the Benin defender, who could leave Buenos Aires with a lasting memory — and potentially the shirt of the Argentine icon.