The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has strongly reaffirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a major tournament after former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher appeared to downplay its significance.
Carragher made the controversial remarks while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City. He suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s international record could hurt his chances of claiming football’s top individual prize.
“I think the problem is the fact that he’s with Egypt and probably not playing in a major tournament or has a great chance of winning,” Carragher stated.
“Normally, the player who excels in the Champions League or a major tournament, like Vinicius Jr. or (Kylian) Mbappe, has the best shot at the Ballon d’Or.”
His comments quickly sparked backlash, with former Manchester City defender Micah Richards immediately correcting him.
“Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people at home might think it’s not being taken seriously. AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know,” Richards asserted.
Carragher, however, responded by questioning whether Egypt would be a contender for the FIFA World Cup, implying that only the biggest global competitions truly influence the Ballon d’Or race. Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge shut down the argument, stating, “If you win the Euros or Copa America, it’s considered a big achievement, so AFCON is on the same level.”
CAF later took to social media to reinforce its stance, posting on X (formerly Twitter) with photos highlighting AFCON’s prestige. The caption simply read: “Major Tournament. That’s the tweet.”
