Afcon 2025 (Q): Beninese victims of violence in Libya after qualifying!

Benin’s Guépards secured a heroic draw against Libya (0-0) in Tripoli on Monday. The result means qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. It was a memorable performance that should have been celebrated with dignity. But the evening quickly descended into indignation and chaos.

Benin were in a favourable position going into the final round of qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but they held out in Tripoli (1-1) to snatch qualification despite Rwanda’s unexpected 1-2 win over Nigeria in Uyo. As soon as the final whistle blew, the atmosphere in Tripoli’s Stade International took a turn for the worse. Unhappy with the result, Libyan fans vented their frustration by throwing bottles of water and other objects onto the pitch.

The local security forces, trying to avoid an escalation, decided to detain the Beninese players and their supporters. Huddled in the dressing room, the Benin delegation waited for the situation to calm down. But instead of a return to calm, events took a dramatic turn.

The shameful attack on the Benin delegation in Libya

As the team prepared to leave, Libyan security guards assaulted several members of the Benin delegation. Coach Gernot Rohr was hit on the left arm and immediately received emergency treatment. Enrico Pionetti, the goalkeeping coach, received a blow to the head. Two Tunisian members of the Beninese Guépards’ technical staff and several Beninese security guards were also injured in the attack.

Video footage of the scene, captured and broadcast live by Blaise Adankpo, a journalist on Benin’s national television, shows Gernot Rohr holding an ice pack to his arm, visibly stunned. Other distraught and injured members of staff can also be seen. These images, which went viral, quickly provoked a wave of indignation on social networks and in international sporting circles.

From a sporting point of view, this qualification remains an achievement. Despite the hostile conditions and a tough opponent, the Cheetahs held firm to secure their ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. But their success was tarnished by an evening marked by violence.