Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is feeling the heat after his comments that have been deemed disrespectful towards the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher is facing social media backlash after his remarks that Mohamed Salah may miss the Ballon d’Or Award as has not played in a major tournament.
Salah, who has been on fire for the Reds this season, was at the centre of all good things for Liverpool on Sunday as they beat Manchester City 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 11 points, scoring the opener, before setting up the second for Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Egyptian took his tally to 25 goals across all competitions this season and with his stock rising, discussions turned to whether he is now a contender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award this year.
However, Carragher does not believe Salah will be part of the conversation, even if he leads Arne Slot’s team to multiple trophies, pointing to a “lack of a major tournament” as what would be his undoing.
“I think the problem (is) the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such, or maybe got a great chance of winning, I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament,” Carragher said in the Sky Sports studios.
“Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr and (Kylian) Mbappe right now, Real Madrid looking really good going for the Champions League.”
However, his fellow pundits Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards were quick to correct him, reminding Carragher that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a major tournament.
“Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying ‘they aren’t taking it seriously.’ AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know,” said Richards.
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Sturridge then weighed in, saying: “It’s a fact. It’s a fact. It’s a fact. If you win the Euros or Copa America it’s deemed to be big so the AFCON is in the same level.”
Fans, particularly in Africa, did not take kindly to Carragher’s assertions, which they deemed to be disrespectful to the AFCON, the biggest football tournament on the continent.
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“You wouldn’t last a minute in an AFCON final. The physicality, the passion, the stakes, everything about it is elite. But sure, keep scoffing in ignorance, @Carra23,” Carragher was told.
“As dumb as his sentiments are, he’s not the only one who feels that way. Afcon has long been disrespected by clubs, coaches, and players in England,” commented a fan.
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“This is precisely the attitude people like him have towards the AFCON. Why is that, Jamie? Micah was right to mention it, and it’s all there to see how triggered you were.”
“Jamie Carragher is always disrespectful, I don’t know if this attitude is a deliberate attempt to be controversial. I think so. It puts him on the map always. On the flip side, will you blame the Europeans for disrespecting the AFCON? Maybe Not. CAF must make it attractive and lucrative,” was the take of another fan.
“Listen to this chap doing all he can to undermine the AFCON Tournament and in the process try and deny @MoSalah his deserved passage to the #BallonDor which after many seasons of consistently high end record-breaking performances, should have long achieved. But western world views on African Football remain as prejudiced and distorted as displayed by this @Carra23 Chap,” commented a disappointed supporter.
“True. This debate highlights a recurring issue in global football discourse—African football and its stars often don’t get the recognition they deserve. AFCON is one of the most competitive international tournaments, yet some Western pundits continue to undermine its significance.”
It is a debate that looks like it will not go away soon although the Confederation of African Football has been trying to make AFCON not only competitive but popular around the world.
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The 2023 tournament was considered the most successful AFCON after setting a new viewership record of over two billion viewers worldwide, making it the most-watched in its over 60-year history, while it generated $80 million in profit, the highest ever.
