Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has called out former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for his comments downplaying the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.
Carragher faced criticism after implying that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or prospects were hindered because he represents Egypt, suggesting AFCON is not a prestigious competition. The remarks were made during his analysis on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
“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.”
In response, Okocha, in an interview circulating on X on Friday, dismissed Carragher’s footballing credentials, stating:
“There are some players that will say something; you just overlook it. If you look at their careers, if you look at the type of football that they played, you can understand. I mean, you wouldn’t want your son to be like Carragher. So, he can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel also condemned Carragher’s stance on his Obi One Podcast, calling the remarks “disrespectful.”
“The Africa Cup of Nations is as big as the Euros. I’ve played in it and won it. It’s not in his f*ing place to discredit the AFCON. He sits there week in, week out, teaching and coaching people on how to win the Premier League, and he never won it!”
Mikel emphasised AFCON’s significance, stating that young African players aspire to play in the competition, drawing inspiration from their footballing idols.