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24th February 2025
11:17am GMT
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher upset fans on social media with his controversial comments about Mo Salah and the AFCON while on pundit duty for Sky Sports over the weekend.
Carragher, alongside Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge made the comments while analysing Liverpool's 2-0 win over Manchester City.
The Reds extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points over second place Arsenal with 11 games left to play.
Salah got himself on the scoresheet alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in a brilliant first half display.
Salah scored and provided an assist in the same game for the 11th time this campaign which got those in the studio talking about his chances of winning individual awards such as the Ballon d'Or.
Former Reds forward Sturridge began by claiming that Salah wants to become 'the best in the world', though for Carragher there was one perceived obstacle in his way.
Jamie Carragher flippantly disregarding AFCON being a major tournament on Sky Sports tonight. pic.twitter.com/FI2CAFGa5B
— Leo Haider (@leohaider7) February 23, 2025
He 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.
"Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr and (Kylian) Mbappe right now, Real Madrid looking really good going for the Champions League.
"Liverpool will be in that conversation, but right now (Los Blancos) are certainly the front runner."
Fans on social media were quick to criticise Carragher for not including the Africa Cup of Nations as a 'major tournament'.
Salah has never lifted that trophy but Egypt are the most successful team in the competition's history with an impressive seven titles, and will have a chance to go for crown No 8 at the end of 2025.
Sturridge and Richards were quick to correct Carragher, with Richards stating: "Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying 'they aren't taking it serious'. AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know."
Carragher then responded by asking whether Egypt would be in contention to win the World Cup next year, to which the former Man City defender responded: "No, but AFCON is big, isn't it? You remember when him and Mane was going for it and..."
Carragher interrupted: "Oh God."
Sturridge interjected and tried to bring the discussion to a close saying: "It's a fact. It's a fact. It's a fact. If you win the Euros or Copa America it's deemed to be big so the AFCON is in the same level."
But the damage was already done as people took to X to criticise Carragher.
One fan said: "Carragher saying Afcon isnt a major tournament for Salah to go to is an example of how everything is judged from an Eurocentric view. Youre telling an African than the biggest tournament in his continent is not "major" or worth playing. I don't get it really, I just don't get it."
A second said simply labelled the exchange as 'incredibly disappointing'.
A third commented: "Jamie Carragher dismissing AFCON as a ‘lesser tournament’ is peak ignorance. George Weah literally won the Ballon d’Or without even playing in a World Cup. AFCON is a major competition with elite talent—just because it’s not in Europe doesn’t make it irrelevant. Do better!"
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