Nigerian football fans have expressed outrage and demanded a sincere apology from former Liverpool defender and football pundit Jamie Carragher after he dismissed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as “not a major tournament.” The controversy erupted during a Champions League broadcast, where Carragher suggested that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or prospects were limited because he was competing in AFCON rather than a “major tournament.”
The comments sparked a social media firestorm, with fans across Nigeria and the African continent condemning Carragher’s remarks as disrespectful and dismissive of African football. Despite his attempt to clarify his statement, many fans found his explanation insufficient and insincere.
In a follow-up statement, Carragher acknowledged that his choice of words was “clumsy” but insisted that his intention was not to disrespect AFCON. “What I would never want to be described as, as a pundit, would be ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim, whether that’s to a player, a club, a country, a continent, an international tournament, whatever that may be,” he said.
He explained that his point was based on historical trends in Ballon d’Or voting, which he claimed has traditionally favored European competitions like the UEFA European Championship. “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 feel that not just AFCON but also tournaments like the Asia Games and Gold Cup don’t resonate with the people who vote for the award,” Carragher clarified.
However, fans were unimpressed with his explanation. Many took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, accusing Carragher of doubling down on his original statement rather than offering a genuine apology.
Morola Oyedele wrote, “Mr. Carragher, apologize properly and stop trying to sound politically correct.” Edison Ade added, “He is still standing his ground. You could have just apologized and kept it moving.” Nna Mmadu noted, “Not an apology uttered. He even doubled and tripled down.”
Osasere Osayawe challenged Carragher’s understanding of the tournament’s significance, stating, “Still wrong in your statements. I thought you were a Brit and you understand English, apparently, you don’t. What you should have said is that, in order of ranking or priority, maybe the Euros comes before the AFCON. That doesn’t mean it is not a major tournament.”
Some fans dismissed Carragher entirely, with Omolomo writing, “Tell him he doesn’t matter to us, he’s a silly man. We are not accepting planned speech.” South African fan Ndlombango ka Tomase was even more direct, calling Carragher a “douchebag” and noting that he stopped short of a proper apology.
The backlash reflects a broader narrative of disrespect toward African football, a sentiment echoed by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. “It should be respected more than it is,” Ferdinand stated, criticizing the media’s tendency to undervalue AFCON.
The numbers underscore AFCON’s global significance. According to the Confederation of African Football, the 2024 AFCON reached a record-breaking 2.2 billion viewers worldwide, far surpassing the Super Bowl’s 123.4 million viewers.
As the 2025 AFCON approaches, set to take place in Morocco in December, the tournament continues to grow in prominence. The controversy surrounding Carragher’s comments has sparked a crucial conversation about the need to recognize and respect African football’s value on the global stage.
For now, Nigerian fans remain steadfast in their demand for a genuine apology, emphasizing that AFCON is not just a major tournament but a celebration of African excellence and unity.
