Benin Republic’s qualification for next year’s AFCON has been overshadowed by an alarming incident involving head coach Gernot Rohr.
According to Benin Football’s official X account, Rohr and a member of the team’s security staff were assaulted by a Libyan policeman following Monday’s goalless draw in Tripoli, a result that sent Benin through alongside Nigeria.
Softfootball gathered that the Benin squad were reportedly held inside the stadium’s locker room after the final whistle, with the delay explained as a precaution to let Libyan fans clear the venue safely and avoid potential unrest.
It was only once the team was cleared to leave that the alleged assault on Rohr took place.
The incident echoes an earlier episode in October, when Nigeria’s Super Eagles were detained by Libyan authorities for over ten hours before a qualifier in Benghazi.
CAF’s Disciplinary Board fined Libya $50,000 over that case and awarded Nigeria three points, a decision the Libyan federation has since appealed.
