Former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has addressed the heavy criticism he received from African football legends, including Jay-Jay Okocha and Mikel Obi, as well as fans, after his controversial remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
Carragher sparked outrage after suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or could be affected by Egypt’s absence from a “major tournament.”
However, his fellow pundits, Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, quickly corrected him, emphasizing that AFCON is a prestigious competition, on par with the Euros and Copa America. Carragher, however, dismissed their argument with skepticism.
Ivory Coast are the current champions of the AFCON.
His comments did not sit well with African football icons and fans, who accused him of belittling the continent’s biggest football competition. Okocha and Mikel Obi were among those who strongly criticized him, insisting that he had no right to undermine AFCON’s significance.
.@Carra23 addresses his AFCON comments pic.twitter.com/eKzfqIEsrv
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 4, 2025
Amid the backlash, Carragher has now attempted to clarify his statement.
“I love debates, but what I would never want to be as a pundit is ignorant and disrespectful. That was never my intention—whether toward a team, a player, a continent, or a tournament,” Carragher said on CBS Sports Golazo UEFA Champions League show.
The former Liverpool star admitted that he had been “clumsy” with his wording and acknowledged that he “got it wrong” when downplaying AFCON.
“I shouldn’t have described AFCON as not a major tournament. My point was about Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances, and I feel that, just like the Asian Cup or the Gold Cup, some tournaments don’t carry as much weight with the voters. That’s not my personal opinion—it’s a fact when you look at the history of the Ballon d’Or winners over the last 40-50 years.”
Carragher went on to explain that the Ballon d’Or has historically had a European football bias, which may affect how AFCON is perceived by voters.
“I’ve always backed Salah to be the first African player since George Weah in the mid-90s to win the Ballon d’Or. But I should have been more careful with my words. The reality is that the Euros have a stronger influence on the journalists, national coaches, and captains who vote for the award.”
He concluded by emphasizing that his comments were never meant to offend anyone.
Meanwhile, Salah remains a frontrunner for the World Best Player award this season. The Liverpool star has been in sensational form, leading his team’s Premier League title charge while also pushing for European success.
The Egyptian forward has already registered 30 goals and 22 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions. With AFCON 2025 set to take place in December, Salah will have another opportunity to secure international silverware with Egypt.
Source: TheAthleticNG