Carragher’s Afcon Comments Spark Row Over African Football Prestige

Former English footballer Jamie Carragher’s offhand remark that the Africa Cup of Nations isn’t a “major tournament” ignited a fiery social media debate about African football’s true value. Speaking after Liverpool’s win, Carragher suggested that Mohamed Salah would need a Champions League title to win the Ballon d’Or, a comment that irked fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, who defended Afcon as equally prestigious as the Euros or Copa America. Carragher later clarified his stance on X, expressing his belief that Salah’s international team, Egypt, put him at a disadvantage for the Ballon d’Or. Carragher’s comments, widely shared online, sparked widespread criticism, including from former players like the former Aston Villa and Egypt captain Ahmed Elmohamady.

Source: BBC