Assistant coach of Benin’s national men’s football team, Tunde Adelakun, has criticised Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates over their conduct following their 3-0 defeat in an international friendly in Buenos Aires.
The October 6 encounter was billed as Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina, with the captain scoring from the penalty spot as the world champions secured victory.
However, Adelakun was unhappy with how the Argentine players treated their Beninese counterparts after the match, accusing them of showing little respect to the African side.
“What struck me was the very obvious and blatant refusal of the Argentina team to want to have anything to do with my team after the game. Handshakes at the end of the game were hurried and impersonal.”
“Any attempt by our players to get close to the man they came to celebrate was rebuffed rather in a very hostile manner by the security operatives on ground.”
“Leo [Messi] made a wild detour and, consciously avoiding the crowd of Benin players that had formed, walked toward the centre of the pitch. That was a new low for a man revered by many and who, in many young African minds, could do no wrong” Adelakun said to theafricanfootballclub.com
