Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher has faced backlash for suggesting that the Africa Cup of Nations is not a significant tournament.
Here's how the African football community responded to his controversial statement.
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The story
Carragher has been heavily criticised for downplaying the importance of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Carragher claimed that Mohamed Salah faces a disadvantage in the Ballon d'Or race due to not being able to win a 'major tournament' on the international stage.
This remark came after Salah scored a goal and provided an assist in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Manchester City, helping them extend their lead over Arsenal to 11 points.
Ballon d'Or winners are typically successful in either the Champions League or an international tournament, such as the European Championship or Copa America.
The last African player to win the award was George Weah in 1995, with Sadio Mane narrowly missing out by finishing second in 2022.
Carragher was quickly corrected live on air by Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards, and his comments were widely condemned on social media from the likes of Muhsin Ertugral and Ahmed Elmohamady.
Jamie Carragher flippantly disregarding AFCON being a major tournament on Sky Sports tonight. pic.twitter.com/FI2CAFGa5B
— Leo Haider (@leohaider7) February 23, 2025
CAF's social media team also posted some amazing scenes from the tournament as a thinly veiled response to Carragher's opinion on AFCON.
Take a look at the reactions to Carragher on Twitter/X, where he's currently trending:
"Is there ever a tournament more disrespected than the Africa Cup of Nations? There is no greater honour than representing your country. The coverage is completely tinged with racism." - Ian Wright, December 2021. pic.twitter.com/Qum4so3agK
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) February 24, 2025
Listen to this chap doing all he can to undermine the @CAF_Online AFCON Tournament and in the process try and deny a @MoSalah his deserved passage to the #BallonDor which after many seasons of consistently high end record-breaking performances, should have long achieved. But… https://t.co/5XpotJYvKP
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) February 24, 2025
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Jamie Carragher doesn't know what Major Tournaments is because he never won one. AFCON is A Major Tournament. So proud to won it twice.
— Ahmed Elmohamady (@Elmo_27) February 24, 2025
Major Tournament. ??That's the tweet. #TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/oAU1kc7IVL
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) February 24, 2025
AFCON needs more respect… ???It matters federations need to do more to highlight this.Ask the likes of Mo Salah, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto'o what it means….#AFCON pic.twitter.com/w0NnYdMAqa
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 24, 2025
When Roy Keane looked at Jamie Carragher like this, I just knew what he was saying. This Carragher chap is a problem. https://t.co/ssviKVbBQj pic.twitter.com/2WyVCfsn3V
— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) February 24, 2025
AFCON is just a little tournament that doesn't really matter, Jamie ? Just a minor kickabout with some of the best players in the world. Played with passion by an entire continent that lives and breathes football.Maybe you have experienced Drogba, Eto'o, Yaya Touré, or… pic.twitter.com/FrCQqgnZwv
— Muhsin Ertugral (@MuhsinErtugral) February 24, 2025
? MAJOR Pride.? MAJOR Stars.? MAJOR Talent.? MAJOR Fans.? MAJOR .. Football.#TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/xp5ATSoH6m
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) February 24, 2025
It's Jamie Carragher's scoffing at the notion of AFCON being a major tournament, how he turns his nose up at being corrected by Richards Sturridge. Also, look at Micah's face throughout prior to Carragher's dismissive reaction.When people tell you what they are, believe them. https://t.co/Js3hmsbRXH
— Adam (@AdamJoseph____) February 23, 2025
AFCON weighs the same as Euros and anyone that believes otherwise is nothing but ignorant https://t.co/rtdzMBQUVQ
— ??? (@jadinho97) February 23, 2025
Here's how Jamie Carragher responded to the backlash:
Salah/AFCON/Balon d'or!The point I was trying to make yesterday was that MO Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Balon D'or. If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON was MVP I don't think he would win the Balon d'or.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 24, 2025
