Jamie Carragher, a former England and Liverpool defender, has responded to criticism from Nigerian football legends Jay-Jay Okocha, Mikel Obi, and others over his comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Carragher initially suggested that Mohamed Salah might struggle to win the Ballon d’Or because Egypt wasn’t competing in what he called a “major tournament.” This remark upset many, including Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, who reminded him that AFCON is a big competition, just like the Copa América and the European Championship. Carragher’s surprised reaction led to strong criticism from Okocha and Mikel, who argued that he had no right to downplay the importance of AFCON.
After receiving backlash, Carragher clarified his comments during a discussion on CBS Sports Golazo. He admitted that he didn’t express himself well and said:
“I enjoy debates, but I never want to come across as ignorant or disrespectful. That was not my intention—whether it’s about a team, player, continent, or tournament. I made a mistake by calling AFCON ‘not a major tournament.’”
He explained that his comments were meant to highlight why Salah might not win the Ballon d’Or. “I wasn’t just talking about AFCON but also other tournaments like the Asian Cup or Gold Cup. There are five major continental tournaments apart from the World Cup. However, some of these don’t seem to matter as much to those who vote for the Ballon d’Or—and that’s just a fact. If you look at who has won the award over the last 40-50 years, it’s clear.”
Carragher also expressed his support for Salah: “I’ve been hoping Mo Salah would become the first African player since George Weah in the 1990s to win the Ballon d’Or. But I should have been more careful with my words. Competitions like the Euros seem to have more influence on journalists, coaches, and captains who vote for the award. This might be because of historical bias—remember, the Ballon d’Or originally focused on European football.”
He ended by saying he didn’t mean to offend anyone: “It was never my intention to disrespect AFCON or any other tournament.”
Mohamed Salah remains a strong candidate for this year’s Ballon d’Or. The Egyptian star has been outstanding for Liverpool this season, scoring 30 goals and providing 22 assists in 39 games across all competitions. With Egypt set to compete in AFCON 2025 this December, Salah will have another chance to strengthen his case for global recognition.
