Carragher under fire for dismissing AFCON as ‘not a major tournament’

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, has caused a stir by downplaying the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations while talking about Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year. During a discussion on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday, Carragher implied that Salah’s Egyptian nationality and the country’s international performance might impact his bid for football’s top individual honor.
“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,” Carragher said.
“I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament. 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.”
“I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament
His remarks immediately sparked backlash, with Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester City defender Micah Richards pushing back.
“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,” Richards countered.
Carragher, however, doubled down on his argument by questioning whether Egypt would be contenders for the World Cup, implying that only the biggest global tournaments impact Ballon d’Or voting.
Former England and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge also weighed in, shutting down Carragher’s argument.
“It’s a fact,” Sturridge insisted. “If you win the Euros or Copa America, it’s deemed to be big, so the AFCON is at the same level.”
As Carragher attempted to brush off the conversation, Richards doubled down, reminding him of past AFCON battles involving Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané.
“You remember when he and Mané were going for it and—” Richards began before Carragher interjected with an exasperated, “Oh God.”
Richards’ strong response comes amid increasing criticism of European football’s tendency to downplay African competitions, despite the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) being the continent’s premier international tournament. Carragher’s remarks have reignited ongoing discussions about the global perception of African football. While AFCON holds the title as Africa’s top competition, some European analysts continue to diminish its importance in comparison to tournaments like the UEFA European Championship and Copa América.
Salah, in exceptional form for Liverpool this season, played a pivotal role in Sunday’s 2-0 win, scoring and assisting in the triumph at the Etihad. The Egyptian forward now ranks third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list and is widely regarded as a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or. With the AFCON set to take center stage again in late 2025, the debate surrounding its global recognition is unlikely to subside anytime soon.