Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has clarified that he did not intend to disrespect the African continent after an earlier remark that appeared to undermine the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.
It will be recalled that during the post-match analysis of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City on February 23, 2025, on Sky Sports, Carragher asserted that although Mohammed Salah, an Egyptian, excels with Liverpool, the lack of a major tournament for his national team could hinder his chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
“I think the problem is that he [Salah] is with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in a major tournament, or maybe doesn’t have a great chance of winning. I think it’s either the Champions League or a major tournament.
“Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr. and Mbappe right now, Real Madrid are looking really good going for the Champions League. Liverpool will be in that conversation, but right now, Los Blancos are certainly the front-runners,” he said.
His statement drew vile criticism from many African football legends, including Emmanuel Adebayor, Jay Jay Okocha, and Ahmad Elmohamady, as well as his fellow English football legend, Rio Ferdinand.
The former Liverpool defender, speaking on CBS Sports on March 4, 2025, admitted that the way he dismissed the prestige of the AFCON was wrong and could have made his point in a much better way.
He explained that he was suggesting that the AFCON does not resonate with the persons who vote in the Ballon d’Or, which may affect Liverpool attacker Mohammed Salah’s chances of winning the accolade.
“I don’t disrespect a club, a country, a continent, an international tournament, whatever that may be. Where I got it wrong, was I was clumsy with my language in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was trying to explain the merits of Mo Salah winning the Ballon d’or.
“And I felt or feel that not just AFCON, I would say, the Asia Games, the Gold Cup, not so much the Copa America. There are five major tournaments out there, besides the World Cup, that are for their continent and obviously major tournaments. But some of them don’t resonate with the people who vote for the Ballon d’or. I’ve been banging the drum for Mo Salah to become the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or since George Weah in the mid-90s. So, I should have been a lot tidier with my language around that,” he explained.
Watch Carragher’s remarks in the video below:
.@Carra23 addresses his AFCON comments pic.twitter.com/eKzfqIEsrv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 4, 2025
Meanwhile watch as Ghanaians debate the appointment of Jordan Ayew as Black Stars captain below
SB/EK
