Messi shines, Africans suffer: The incredible behind-the-scenes story of Argentina - Benin / Burkina Faso

Endless journey, spartan hotels, no financial gain, B team... the trips of Burkina Faso and Benin to Argentina for two friendly football matches, including Lionel Messi's last, took place in precarious conditions.

At first glance, the Argentine captain's last dance unfolded on Tuesday evening like a dream: Argentina beat Benin 3-0, Messi scored a final goal and even the public daily "La Nation" rejoiced in Cotonou that "the Cheetahs are selling Benin to the whole world".

"We just have to enjoy it, that's all. I'm going to look at him and tell him: 'Messi, you are a God.' He is the best player in the world," Beninese defender Mohamed Tijani told the Argentinian press before the match, while within the federation they are talking about a "privilege" to have been chosen to play this match.

But the feel-good story hides an organization far removed from the standards of professional international football: a long flight over several days to reach Buenos Aires, a hotel without hot water, training conditions "not up to scratch", a member of the Cheetahs delegation told AFP.

He also confirms the information from independent journalist Romain Molina who indicated this week that the invited African federations received no benefit generated by the match, which potentially created millions of euros in revenue and TV rights.

"Sick football"

Although there is no standard practice in friendly matches between national teams, smaller African teams generally use agencies to organize their away matches and do not necessarily receive any benefits from these matches.

"African federations accept these deals because everything is taken care of, and it avoids having to look for opponents and organize friendlies... But indeed the conditions of transport and accommodation are substandard," adds a well-informed observer of African football.

A few days earlier, another African team experienced an even more bizarre scenario.

On the eve of the kick-off, the Stallions of Burkina Faso were still stuck in Casablanca, due to a lack of transport, after their flight was cancelled.

As a result, almost the entire professional squad refused to board at the last minute and Burkina Faso sent a U23 team to Buenos Aires at short notice.

The players, who arrived a few hours before the match, suffering from jet lag, were logically thrashed 7-0 by the world runners-up.

This angered the head of the ruling junta in the country, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who in the aftermath of this defeat stated: "Our football is sick and we will find remedies", promising "important decisions" to come.

Money laundering

"The next international window in November is fast approaching. If nothing changes in the relations between the different stakeholders, we risk reliving the same difficulties, with potentially even more regrettable consequences," acknowledges Ibrahim Dianda, an executive of the Burkinabe federation in an opinion piece published on Facebook.

So who is to blame? The African federations that accept these deals, or the Argentine federation (AFA) that is taking advantage of its notoriety and the recent appearances of idol Messi to rake in maximum revenue?

The AFA, which is experiencing financial difficulties, is under investigation for alleged money laundering and its president Claudio Tapia is suspected of tax evasion.

In Buenos Aires, the press and social media are mocking the "chatarra" matches, which are cheap.

In addition to the double confrontation in October, Messi's team had faced Mauritania (2-1 victory) and Zambia (5-0 victory) before the World Cup, ranked 110th and 91st respectively in the FIFA rankings.

And she had secured a lucrative sum of several million euros to agree to travel to Angola in November 2025 to play a friendly match for the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.

In a statement, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) asserted that it had "respected its contractual commitments" in the match against Burkina Faso.

The AFA did not respond to requests from AFP.

AFP