Benin Republic have suffered a setback ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, as midfielder Junior Olaitan will not make the trip after being blocked by his Turkish club Goztepe, Afrosport reports.
Olaitan has missed Gotzepe’s last two league matches due to a muscle injury, but was included in Benin’s 25-man squad for the final phase of the qualifiers by coach Gernot Rohr.
The 23-year-old, born in Porto-Novo to a Beninese mother and Nigerian father, reportedly attempted to leave Istanbul without permission from the club but was stopped by club officials at the airport.
FIFA rules require clubs to release players for international duty, but Goztepe are within their rights to hold him back if medical reports confirm he is unfit to play.
“He is not with us because his club prevented him from joining the national team,” Benin boss Rohr said. “Therefore, we have sent a letter to FIFA to report this situation. Even an injured player must report to the gathering of his national team.”
Olaitan has been a key figure for Benin, starting their last 18 competitive matches under Rohr. He has earned 35 international caps since his debut in September 2021, scoring five goals and providing six assists.
The Cheetahs will take on Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Friday, 10 October before locking horns with Nigeria on Tuesday, 14 October at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Benin currently sit top of Group C with 14 points, level with second-placed South Africa and three ahead of Nigeria. They will need to win their final two fixtures to secure a place at next year’s finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
