Air France flight diversion: FG reacts as Nigerian passengers stranded in Togo

Super Eagles legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has criticized former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for his comments that downplay the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.

Carragher ignited controversy after alleging that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were limited because he represents Egypt, suggesting that AFCON lacks significance as a competition. Speaking on Sky Sports following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City, Carragher remarked:

“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. ”

In reply, Okocha, during an interview shared on X on Friday, dismissed Carragher’s footballing credentials, asserting:

“There are some players that will say something; you just overlook it. If you look at their careers, if you look at the type of football that they played, you can understand. I mean, you wouldn’t want your son to be like Carragher. So, he can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa. ”

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel also condemned Carragher’s position on his Obi One Podcast, labeling the remarks as “disrespectful. ”

“The Africa Cup of Nations is as big as the Euros. I’ve played in it and won it. It’s not in his f*ing place to discredit the AFCON. He sits there week in, week out, teaching and coaching people on how to win the Premier League, and he never won it! ”

Mikel underscored AFCON’s importance, indicating that young African players aspire to compete in the tournament, drawing motivation from their footballing role models.