Benin Boss Roars at CAF: Refereeing Is a Car Crash, Egypt’s Penalty Called Out

Refereeing Under Scrutiny as Benin’s Coach Speaks Out

Gernot Rohr, head coach of Benin, has publicly challenged the African governing body CAF, accusing it of bias toward the continent’s bigger nations.

In an interview with France 24, Rohr said, "Everything is geared to allow the great African nations to qualify."

He added, "The big teams can stay and play in the same stadium and in the same city, while we, the smaller nations in the continent, are forced to travel to them."

Prior to the match, he noted, it was not even possible for his side to inspect the pitch, which had hosted multiple games already, calling that situation "a bit excessive."

Rohr pointed out, "The giants play in the evening while the smaller teams undergo their matches in the afternoon."

The AFCON fixture Egypt vs. Benin was highlighted as a concrete example in the surrounding discussions, with the match scheduled for January 5, 2026 at 17:00, as per the schedule in the surrounding context.

He continued, "We understand football must evolve and generate additional revenue, but the sports aspect remains the primary standard."

Rohr asserted, "Refereeing is catastrophic, and decisions tend to favor the giants of the continent; the penalty against South Africa in the match against Egypt is a clear illustration."

He concluded, "Smaller nations are not yet treated the same as the big ones."

In the broader AFCON narrative, Rohr’s remarks feed into a larger debate about fairness, infrastructure, and the logistics of travel for smaller teams. The voices calling for structural reforms in CAF persist, even as the tournament delivers drama and national pride.

Punchline 1: If referees wore exoskeletons, Benin would finally have a fair chance to reach the endline. Punchline 2: My calendar is convinced the offside rule is a fashion trend—bold, confusing, and always in vogue for the big teams.