Carragher clarifies comments on AFCON disrespect

Jamie Carragher has taken to social media to clarify his remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following widespread backlash. 

The former Liverpool defender had previously drawn criticism for downplaying AFCON’s importance, claiming it is not a “major tournament.”

Clarifying his stance, Carragher explained: “The point I was trying to make yesterday was that Mo Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt when it comes to winning the Ballon d’Or,” he said.

 “If Salah had an average season at Liverpool but won AFCON and was named MVP, I don’t think he would win the Ballon d’Or because AFCON doesn’t carry the same weight as other tournaments. But if Mbappe had an average season at Real Madrid and won the World Cup or Euros, he would still have a strong chance.”

Carragher also referenced past cases, adding: “It’s not just about AFCON. Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) and Robert Lewandowski (Poland) were never going to win the World Cup or Euros to boost their Ballon d’Or chances. It’s simply a reality, not a controversial statement.”

Addressing Sadio Mane’s second-place finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings, he noted: “I know Mane finished second a few years ago after winning AFCON, but that alone wasn’t enough. Liverpool being two games away from a quadruple played a huge role in that as well.”

Carragher concluded by acknowledging that his wording could have been better: “It’s not disrespectful to say the World Cup, Euros, or Copa América are bigger tournaments—it’s just my opinion based on what I watch. Calling AFCON ‘not a major competition’ was clumsy, but I think most people understood the point I was making.”