Jamie Carragher, 47, recently found himself in hot water after downplaying the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), sparking a fierce response from football fans and former players alike.

Carragher’s Comments Raise Eyebrows

The former Liverpool defender made the controversial remarks while discussing Mohamed Salah’s place in the debate for the best player in the world.

After Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, Carragher suggested that Salah’s participation in AFCON was detrimental to his chances of winning the prestigious title.

Carragher said, “I think the problem is the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such, or maybe got a great chance of winning.

I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament.”

Although Salah has never won AFCON, he has come close twice, winning the tournament in 2017 and 2021. However, Carragher’s remarks have stirred up a heated debate about the importance of the competition.

Former AFCON Winner Calls Out Carragher

In response, former Egypt international Ahmed Elmohamady, who won AFCON twice in 2008 and 2010, hit back at Carragher’s comments.

Elmohamady took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration, writing, “Jamie Carragher doesn’t know what a major tournament is because he never won one. AFCON is a major tournament.

So proud to have won it twice.”

Elmohamady, who made 92 appearances for Egypt, emphasized that AFCON is a prestigious competition, especially as Egypt holds the record for the most titles in its history, with seven wins.

The Pharaohs will have another shot at winning the tournament again later this year.

Richard Keys Adds His Voice to the Debate

The debate didn’t stop with Elmohamady. Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys also joined the conversation, calling Carragher’s remarks “unforgivably ignorant.”

While not directly naming Carragher, Keys made it clear he was responding to the controversy.

In his blog, Keys wrote, “Never mind the PL’s best ever – Mo Salah might just be Liverpool’s best ever – despite the fact he’s never played in a big tournament.

Seriously. What ignorance. Unforgivable ignorance.”

Keys also pointed out the arrogance of UK-based football experts, referencing the dismissal of the World Cup in Qatar, which turned out to be one of the best tournaments ever.

He emphasized that, despite Salah’s lack of AFCON titles, the tournament is a massive event with millions of viewers, especially in Egypt, where over 100 million people watched Egypt’s recent match.

A Global Perspective on AFCON’s Importance

Keys continued, “In Egypt alone, we at beINSPORTS probably had in excess of 100m people watching the showdown of the Egyptian Kings on Sunday.

And that number doesn’t take into account the 22 other nations in our territory.”

He further challenged the notion that AFCON isn’t a major tournament simply because it’s not played in England or Europe, stating that it holds enormous significance in Africa and beyond, with the entire continent following it closely.

The AFCON Debate Continues

The backlash against Carragher’s comments shows just how deeply the debate about the value of AFCON resonates with football fans and professionals around the world.

As Egypt’s national team gears up for another shot at the title later this year, the spotlight on AFCON’s place in the global football landscape continues to grow.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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