His remarks come in response to former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher’s claim that AFCON is not a major competition.
Speaking with Sports Boom, the 1994 AFCON winner encouraged African players to prioritise the tournament despite Carragher’s criticism.
He said: “The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the best football tournaments in the world. And if anyone feels otherwise, well, he’s entitled to his opinion, but it’s rather unfair and disrespectful,” Eguavoen said. “Jamie Carragher spoke out of emotion and clearly doesn’t understand what this tournament means to us in Africa. That’s unfortunate.”
“I’m proud of what it represents. The last tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, for example, was watched globally, and the quality of football was exceptional. Carragher’s comments were emotional rather than thoughtful. I’m sure he’ll reflect on them and eventually apologise.”
“Players need to shift their mindset and take the tournament seriously. I understand their concerns—losing their spot in the club team or financial considerations—but AFCON deserves respect.
“The timing of the competition is a challenge, and clubs invest heavily in these players, but that doesn’t diminish the tournament’s importance.”
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