Nigerian football legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha has slammed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher over remarks downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ballon d’Or race.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, argued that winning AFCON would not significantly boost Mohamed Salah’s chances of securing the award.
Following backlash, he later clarified his stance on social media, stating:
“Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Ballon d’Or… I don’t think the AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments.”
His comments sparked outrage among African football icons, with Okocha dismissing his views and taking a swipe at Carragher’s career.
“There are some players that would say something and you just have to overlook it. If you look at their career, if you look at the type of football they played, then you can understand,” Okocha said.
“I mean… you won’t want your son to be like [Jamie] Carragher. So you can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa also condemned Carragher’s remarks, calling for more respect for AFCON.
Similarly, former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi joined the criticism, stating on his Obi One Podcast:
“I don’t care what he says, I’ve played in it, I’ve won it. It’s not his place to discredit AFCON… Africans tune in to watch the Premier League, and he sits there dismissing the whole continent.”
