Some members of the Benin Republic national team receiving treatment being attacked in Libya
Gernot Rohr, head coach of the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic, says Libyan police assaulted him and his players “with batons” after their 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Tripoli.
On Monday, the Cheetahs played a goalless draw against Libya at the 11 June stadium. The draw was enough to ensure the visitors’ qualification for the 2025 AFCON.
Benin Republic finished second in Group D of the qualifiers, eight points behind the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Libya stayed at the bottom of the group, outside the qualification zone.
After the match in Tripoli, videos surfaced online wherein some Benin Republic team members massaged injuries with ice packs following a reported attack in their dressing room.
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In some of the clips, Rohr, former Eagles head coach, could be seen numbing a sore on his head with an ice pack.
Speaking on the attack in a chat with Canal+, Rohr alleged that it was Libyan police who assaulted him and his players after the match.
“The Libyan police took out their batons to beat us,” he said.
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The treatment of the Benin Republic team in Libya comes barely a month after the Super Eagles suffered a similar experience in the country.
In October, The Eagles were scheduled to play Libya in a double-header clash. However, the situation escalated after Nigeria defeated the North African 1-0 in Uyo. The return leg was to be played at Benghazi, but the Nigerian national team’s flight was diverted to Al Abaq airport, and the players and coaches were held for over 20 hours without food and drinks.
The Eagles later withdrew from the qualifying match and returned home. Libya’s action attracted the wrath of CAF, and the country forfeited the game and was fined $50,000. Nigeria was also awarded three points and three goals.
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