Austin Jay Jay Okocha, a Nigerian football legend, has slammed former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the Ballon d’Or race.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, argued that winning the AFCON would not significantly increase Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the award.
After receiving backlash, he later clarified his position on social media, stating:
Salah’s playing for Egypt puts him at a disadvantage for winning the Ballon d’Or. “I don’t think the AFCON is as important as other tournaments.”
His comments sparked outrage among African football icons, with Okocha dismissing him and criticizing Carragher’s career.
“Some players will say something, and you just have to ignore it. “If you look at their career and the type of football they played, you’ll understand,” Okocha said.
“You don’t want your son to be like Jamie Carragher. So you’ll never appreciate African football or African talent.”
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa also condemned Carragher’s remarks, calling for greater respect for the AFCON.
Similarly, former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi added to the criticism, stating on his Obi One Podcast:
“I don’t care what he says; I played in it, and I won. It is not his place to criticize AFCON… Africans tune in to watch the Premier League, but he sits there dismissing the entire continent.”
