Pride of Africa: Nigerian legends, others defend AFCON amid Carragher, Barton criticism
Former international footballers and African legends have risen in fierce defence of the Africa Cup of Nations following comments by ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher dismissing the tournament as “not major” on live television, PETER AKINBO writes
African football legends and current stars have united in defence of the continent’s premier tournament after former footballer turned pundit Jamie Carragher dismissed the Africa Cup of Nations as ‘not a major tournament’ during a live television broadcast.
The continental furor, which has been brewing since Carragher’s remarks on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City last Sunday, has seen an outpouring of indignation from across Africa and beyond, with many viewing the comments as symptomatic of a persistent disrespect toward African football.
Speaking during a discussion about Mohamed Salah’s prospects of winning the Ballon d’Or, Carragher suggested the Egyptian forward was at a disadvantage due to his nationality, saying, “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. I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament.”
His fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge immediately challenged the assertion, with Richards insisting; “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.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand also joined the discussion, calling for AFCON to be given the same prestige as other major tournaments.
“It should be respected more than it is but what I would say is the lack of resources put into it… the narrative from the media that comes out is that it is a Mickey Mouse tournament,” Ferdinand said during a podcast on Monday.
“That comment is representative of the majority of the people out there; I don’t think that is right, that is ignorant. That is kind of a full process because of the Africa Cup of Nations. If you go to Abedi Pele, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o all these players Riyad Mahrez, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, we have to win this, it is a demand in their country to win this.”
Former Nigeria defender and 2013 AFCON winner Azubuike Egwuekwe expressed disbelief at Carragher’s comments, telling The NewsNGR, “How will he say that the Africa Cup of Nations is not a major tournament? It is the biggest competition in Africa. AFCON is just like their Euros.
“For me, the AFCON is on a great level, so I don’t know why he would make such a comment. I think he is just being biased and for someone who knows football to that level, I am surprised.”
Meanwhile, Joey Barton, another former England international, has backed Carragher’s statements.
“The Africa Cup of Nations isn’t a major championship. Copa América, the European Championship, and the World Cup are your major international tournaments. Unfortunately, AFCON isn’t one of them,” he stated.
“Don’t get me started on the quality of pitches and some of the attendances, but also the accusations of bribery over the years. Apart from the African countries, it doesn’t capture the world’s imagination like some of the other major tournaments do.
“And people forget that in 2010, the Togo team bus was attacked, and I think Emmanuel Adebayor was on it. Sadly, some people lost their lives. These are things you just don’t see at major tournaments.
“The biggest one for me was in 2021-22 when a referee, who must have bought his watch from a street vendor, stopped a game in the 85th minute, restarted it, then stopped it again at the 89th minute — well short of the allotted time — and then tried to get the players back on the pitch. It was Tunisia on that occasion. You just don’t see things like that at major championships.”
Sylvanus Okpala, who won the title in 1980 and was part of Nigeria’s coaching staff during their 2013 AFCON triumph, suggested Carragher might have misspoken but questioned the logic behind his statement.
“Maybe he had a slip of the tongue; I don’t know what he means. I don’t understand that language. I will have to call it a slip of the tongue. I don’t know what that sentence means, it makes no sense,” Okpala told The NewsNGR.
“If it is not a major tournament, then why do their clubs let their players go for it? Why do the players show enthusiasm and request to go and compete? Why do their clubs send scouts to watch the tournament just as they do at the World Cup, Euros and buy players after watching?”
Okpala also noted how the difficulty of winning the AFCON is illustrated by the fact that Salah, despite his world-class status, has yet to lift the trophy saying, “Mohamed Salah he is talking about who is eager to go to the AFCON every time the competition comes around, is there any other player in the Premier League who is better than him? Yet he has not been able to win it, that should let one know how major and difficult it is.”
Current African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman joined the chorus, posting an image of the AFCON trophy on social media with the word “MAJOR” written on it, while Nigeria legend Ahmed Musa shared a picture of himself with the 2013 trophy, writing “#AFCON Respect.”
Another fierce response came from Abiodun Obafemi, who was among Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team.
“If Euros is a Major tournament so also is AFCON,” Obafemi told The NewsNGR.
“I stopped taking whatever Carragher says seriously, a long time ago, because all he failed to do all his life as an average player, who won nothing, he now wants to do as a pundit.”
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong delivered perhaps the most eloquent defence of AFCON, sharing his personal perspective on Instagram.
“Africa as a continent continues to reveal itself. A new generation of exciting talents continuously emerging. Building on the household names and legendary players that paved the way. This should be recognised and celebrated by all,” Troost-Ekong wrote.
“I am proud to have played club football in seven nations across continents, and what I see everywhere is the power of football uniting people. Internationally, representing Nigeria at the Olympics, World Cup and now 3 AFCONs, it’s the latter that I pride myself on the most.”
Troost-Ekong emphasised how AFCON represents the pinnacle of achievement for many African players, including those raised in the diaspora like Lookman.
“I must also speak for all the boys and girls without a voice on our continent for whom too this tournament is their ultimate dream. For my teammates, like Ademola Lookman for example, who also was raised in the diaspora but chose to proudly represent Nigeria,” he continued.
“A player whose talent now colours Champions League nights, accolades that include a record-breaking performance to clinch the Europa League and being crowned Africa’s best. (He) still shares that major dream of being crowned champions of Africa. Like the rest of us.”
In a separate interview with TalkSPORT, Troost-Ekong suggested the tournament suffers from inadequate coverage in certain markets; “I think the challenge may be that it is not properly covered in the United Kingdom, and these are the conversations we should have to increase the coverage just like a tournament like the AFCON deserves.”
The reaction extended far beyond Nigeria, with former players from across Africa weighing in on the controversy.
Ex-Algerian international Adlène Guedioura responded directly to Carragher, writing: “Jamie. AFCON is Major. Africa is BIG. You never lived this…” while sharing images of Algeria’s nationwide celebrations after their 2019 AFCON triumph.
Egyptian legend Ahmed Hassan, a four-time AFCON winner, condemned Carragher’s remarks as ignorant and offensive. In an official statement, he emphasized AFCON’s global prestige and Africa’s immense contribution to world football.
Ghanaian journalist Owuraku Ampofo added to the chorus, writing, “The AFCON is special and no one is gonna take that away from us.”
The debate has rapidly spread across social media platforms, with fans sharing their passionate defences of AFCON.
X user Mr. Nigerian Football (@AJSilverCFC) posted a video from Nigeria’s goal in the 2013 AFCON final, writing; “Nahh Jamie Carragher is ins*ne. Hating on the AFCON because he’s never experienced such a thrill as this.
“I’ll never forget this night. 300 Million people across the world home and abroad jumping and screaming. Major competition. Major celebration.”
Some went further in their criticism, with user Lobo Solitario suggesting; “Jamie Carragher is aware it’s a major tournament, he’s just raci*t.”
A fan on social media backed up what Okpala said about scouting as Juan Arango wrote, “Football is a microcosm of society. AFCON is a ‘small tournament’ and yet when the Premier League looks for players guess where they go?”
According to the Confederation of African Football, the 2024 AFCON shattered viewership records, reaching a total of 2.2 billion viewers worldwide. This surpassed the viewership of the Super Bowl in the United States, which averaged 123.4 million viewers that same year, representing a 1.8 billion gap.
The current controversy is not the first time AFCON has faced criticism or dismissal from European media. In 2021, former Arsenal and England player Ian Wright condemned what he saw as disrespectful coverage of the tournament.
“Is there ever a tournament more disrespected than the Africa Cup of Nations?” Wright asked on Instagram. “There is no greater honour than representing your country. The coverage is completely tinged with racism.”
“We played our Euros across 10 countries in the middle of a pandemic and there’s no issue at all. But Cameroon, a single country hosting a tournament, is a problem.”
With the 2025 AFCON set to take place in Morocco in December, the tournament looks poised to continue its growth in global prominence. The controversy around Carragher’s comments has, perhaps inadvertently, sparked a valuable conversation about the need for greater recognition of African football on the world stage.
“The African continent, as the others in the world, has brought as much to the game of football that we all love,” Troost-Ekong concluded in his statement. “So let’s not waste time comparing but celebrating one of the crown jewels of the game that brings us all together.”
