Former Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel has criticized Jamie Carragher for his recent remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). During a Sky Sports segment, Carragher suggested that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or are limited because Egypt doesn’t participate in “major tournaments,” implying that AFCON doesn’t hold the same prestige as the European Championship or the FIFA World Cup. Mikel responded strongly on the Obi One Podcast, stating, “The Africa Cup of Nations is as big [as the Euros], I’ve played in it and won it. It’s not in his place to discredit the AFCON.”
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Carragher’s comments have sparked widespread criticism. During the broadcast, fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge immediately countered his viewpoint. Richards emphasized, “AFCON is a major tournament,” while Sturridge added, “If you win the Euros or the Copa America, it’s deemed to be big, so AFCON is on the same level.”
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In response to the backlash, Carragher issued a statement on social media, clarifying that his intention was to highlight the challenges Salah faces in Ballon d’Or considerations due to perceptions about AFCON’s global weight. He acknowledged that describing it as not a major competition was “clumsy” and that he didn’t intend to disrespect the tournament.
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The incident has ignited a broader discussion about the recognition and respect of African football tournaments in the global sports community.
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