While analysing the Liverpool versus Manchester City Premier League fixture on Sunday, February 23rd, which the Reds won 2-0 at the Etihad, Carragher stirred controversy by asserting that the continent’s prestigious competition was not a significant tournament.
Carragher was discussing the performance of Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, who had scored the opener for Liverpool, on whether he could be in line to win the Ballon d’Or - a prestigious annual award for the best player in the world.
He went ahead to suggest that the former AS Roma and Chelsea forward would have to win the Champions League in order to win the Ballon d’Or because the AFCON tournament was not recognised by voters as a “major tournament”.
Carragher said during the debate as quoted by BBC Sports: “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. Normally, the player who excels in that.”
His fellow commentators, Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge disagreed with his comments with Richards, who played for Man City saying: “A lot of people are at home saying ‘They aren't taking it seriously.’ AFCON is a big tournament,” while Sturridge, who played for Liverpool said: “It's a fact. If you win the Euros or Copa America it's deemed to be big - so the Afcon is at the same level.”
Carragher should officially apologise
Though Carragher, who played for Liverpool for over 17 years, and was the club’s vice-captain for 10 years, and the second-longest ever serving player, made several attempts to clear the air over the matter, many people in Africa received it in a negative way.
“It is very unfortunate that such comments could come from Carragher,” Abich, who played for Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars, told Flashscore. “Does Carragher know that without the AFCON tournament most of the African players in Europe could not be playing there?
“Why is it that when we have AFCON, several scouts from Europe, including those from the Premier League where Carragher played for the entirety of his playing career, come to scout for African players? If the tournament was not major like he said, what is the essence of these scouts coming to watch us play?
“I want to believe he did not mean what he said, I want to believe the comments he made came out and he was not planning to utter such words. It is disrespectful to look down upon the AFCON tournament, we have many players who have made it to Europe because of the tournament and many more are on their way because of the same tournament.”
Abich, who previously played for Nzoia Sugar, Chemelil Sugar, Sony Sugar, Tusker, AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz, Sofapaka, Mathare United, Bandari, Mt. Kenya United all in the Kenyan Premier League before hanging his boots, continued: “AFCON tournament brings the best of African teams, it is not just a local tournament, we have top quality on show during the tournament, we have many seen players like Jay Jay Okocha of Nigeria, come through AFCON, it was the same with players like Didier Drogba.
“To tell us that AFCON is not a major tournament, then it means we don’t understand what major stands for. Every African nation’s dream is to play at the AFCON or even to win it, and I believe Carragher’s statement should not be taken seriously, as Africa we need to focus and make the tournament even better.”
Abich added: “Carragher's remarks were inappropriate. While perhaps unintended, he inadvertently reinforced a longstanding bias that continues to undermine the value and contributions of Africans, perpetuating a narrative that diminishes their worth. A very imperial stand which has no place in football anymore.”
The former Nairobi City Stars assistant coach did not stop there, going further to question why global media could shift their attention to cover the AFCON if it was not major. “All the global media always shift their attention to cover the tournament, whenever it is being held. If it was not major, do you think the global media could come in droves or could be interested to get news from it?
“For me, “AFCON is on the same level as the Euro and the Champions League.”
