CAF has fired back at Jamie Carragher after the former Liverpool defender dismissed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as “not a major tournament.”
Carragher made the comment on Sky Sports while discussing Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances, suggesting that his participation in AFCON did not hold the same weight as the World Cup or the European Championships.
His remarks immediately sparked backlash, with several football figures calling him out for undermining the significance of Africa’s premier competition.
Micah Richards, who was part of the discussion, quickly shut down Carragher’s claim, reminding him that AFCON is a major tournament.
“A lot of people at home might think they aren’t taking it seriously, but AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know,” he stated.
Daniel Sturridge backed him, pointing out that if winning the Euros or Copa America is considered prestigious, then AFCON deserves the same respect.
The criticism didn’t stop there. Ahmed Elmohamady, a two-time AFCON winner with Egypt, didn’t hold back, taking to social media to hit Carragher with a brutal dig.
“Jamie Carragher doesn’t know what a major tournament is because he never won one. AFCON is a major tournament. So proud to have won it twice,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand weighed in on the controversy, calling Carragher’s comments “ignorant” and arguing that such dismissive attitudes are part of a larger issue where African football is often not given the respect it deserves.
Amid the growing backlash, Carragher attempted to clarify his stance, insisting that he was making a point about Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances rather than questioning AFCON’s legitimacy.
He admitted that his wording may have been clumsy but stood by his broader argument about how different tournaments are perceived in individual awards discussions.
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