Nigerian football icon Austin Jay Jay Okocha has strongly criticized former Liverpool defender and football pundit Jamie Carragher over his recent remarks downplaying the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in determining the winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
The controversy started when Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, suggested that winning AFCON would not significantly enhance Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah’s chances of securing the coveted award. His statement implied that the tournament does not hold the same weight as other international competitions like the UEFA European Championship or the FIFA World Cup.
After facing a wave of backlash from African football fans and legends, Carragher attempted to clarify his stance through a social media post. He wrote:
“Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Ballon d’Or. The competition he plays in internationally is not as prestigious as others. I don’t think the AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments.”
However, his explanation did little to calm the outrage among African football icons, many of whom took offense at what they perceived as a disrespectful and dismissive remark about the continent’s premier football competition.
Reacting to Carragher’s comments, Okocha firmly dismissed his viewpoint and took a direct jab at the former defender’s own football career. Speaking in an interview, Okocha said:
“There are some players that would say something, and you just have to overlook it. If you look at their career and the kind of football they played, then you will understand.”
He continued with a sharp retort, adding:
“I mean… you wouldn’t want your son to be like [Jamie] Carragher. So you can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”
Okocha’s statement quickly gained traction, with many African football supporters applauding him for standing up for the prestige of AFCON and African football as a whole.
Joining the conversation, Nigerian football veteran and Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa also voiced his displeasure over Carragher’s remarks, calling for more respect to be shown to AFCON and its significance in world football.
Similarly, former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi weighed in on the matter during an episode of his Obi One Podcast. Expressing his frustration, Mikel stated:
“I don’t care what he says. I’ve played in AFCON, I’ve won it. It’s not his place to discredit the tournament.”
He further added:
“Africans tune in to watch the Premier League and all these European leagues. Then he sits there dismissing the whole continent as if AFCON doesn’t matter.”
The debate surrounding the respect and recognition of African football continues to spark conversations within the global football community. Many fans and analysts believe that despite the high level of talent and competition in AFCON, it remains underappreciated compared to European tournaments.
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