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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has sparked controversy after dismissing the Africa Cup of Nations as not a major tournament while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, Carragher suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s international record could hinder his chances of claiming football’s most prestigious individual award.
“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’ firm response comes amid growing criticism of European football’s tendency to downplay African competitions, despite AFCON’s status as the continent’s premier international tournament.
Meanwhile, Carragher’s comments have reignited long-standing debates about the global perception of African football.
While AFCON is the continent’s premier international competition, some European pundits continue to downplay its significance compared to tournaments like the UEFA European Championship and Copa América.
Salah, who has been in blistering form for Liverpool this season, played a key role in Sunday’s win, scoring and assisting in the victory at the Etihad. The Egyptian forward now sits third on Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring chart and has been widely tipped for Ballon d’Or consideration.
With the AFCON set to take center stage early next year or/and late December 2025, the debate over its global standing is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
