Where Jamie Carragher got it wrong

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a flagship football competition that could be metaphorically referred to as African World Cup among nations that are members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It is a biennial completion – one of the most prestigious international football tournaments in the world, showcasing the best talent from across the African continent. Yet, despite its rich history, immense significance, and the thrills and suspense that fans feel, some voices in the footballing world have been trying to downplay its importance. One such figure is former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who has made remarks suggesting AFCON does not hold the same weight as other major international tournaments.

The former Liverpool defender said: “Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Ballon d’Or. If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON and was [Player of the Tournament], I don’t think he’d win the Ballon d’Or, because I don’t think the AFCON carries the weight of other tournaments.” This perspective is not only flawed, but also reflects a broader ignorance of football’s global landscape. That is ignorance on steroid, due to the fact that, English players hardly go out of the isle to discover and experience other culture. That is an affliction that Carragher and his likes have to contend with, when discussing anything outside the United Kingdom, or Europe. Did they not say, “traveling is a part of education”? There are several areas in which he got it, all, wrong.

Let’s take a look at each of them.

AFCON’s Global Standing:

AFCON, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been running since 1957 (unlike the European championship that started in 1960) and has grown into a competition that commands global attention. With 24 teams participating, passionate fan bases, and players from top European clubs, it is Africa’s premier football event. It is, at least, equivalent to the UEFA European Championship, Copa América, and even the Asian Cup in terms of its importance within its region. Regardless of what Carragher and his ilk feel about the AFCON, it is one of the regional international competitions, organised by one of the affiliates – the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – a major FIFA’s affiliate. CAF happens to be the affiliate with the highest voting members of FIFA, in terms number – 54 out of about 204 in total.

AFCON has produced legendary footballers, including George Weah, Didier Drogba, Kanu Nwankwo, Lucas Radebe, Segun Odegbami, Japhet Ndoram, Samuel Eto’o, Jay-Jay Okocha, Abedi Pele, Freddie Kanoute, Seydou Keita, Yahaya and Kolo, Toure Sadio Mane, El-hadji Diouf, Riyad Mahrez, Beni Mccarthy, Rodger Mila, Kalusha Bwalya Sunday Oliseh, and Mohamed Salah, Mustapha Hadji, Victor Osimhen, and Ademola Lookman, just to mention but a few. The tournament is a stage where African stars cement their legacies, much like the Euros or Copa América for their respective continents. To dismiss its significance is to ignore the deep footballing culture and competitive history that define African Football. Added to that is the formidable list of superstars who have graced the competition, a few of whom were mentioned above.

Where Carragher gets it wrong, the most.

Carragher’s stance on AFCON has been dismissive in the past, often implying that it is a secondary competition compared to European Cup of Nations, and Copa America, as tournaments. His argument, like those of some other European pundits, often revolves around club football disruptions due to AFCON’s scheduling in January and February. While it is true that this timing can cause conflicts for European clubs, that does not diminish the tournament’s status. As a matter of fact, that some of the best in each of the European teams leave their clubs to participate in the competition, is an eloquent testimony to how significant the competition is, regardless of how Carragher and his fellow racists feel about it. Did I hear you say “Habba”? Okay. Do you think it is a coincidence that those fellow English men (Micah Richard, and Rio Ferdinand) who tried to correct him, and remain the the most vocal opposition to that line of thought, since that verbal own goal, are black? Come on! Otherwise, how does he explain the fact that, European football scout swarm match venues during the competition, wanting to catch the best of talents usually thrown up by the competition for their respective clubs? Does it not, therefore, begar belief, why prominent football voices in Europe cry about how AFCON would derail their season, if they release African players on their payroll, if indeed AFCON is not a major tournament?

A competition is insignificant according to you, yet those who leave your country’s clubs, in order to participate in it are so key to the clubs that, their absences derail the clubs’ seasons. Is Carragher and his co-travelers talking from a position of anger, or ignorance or even a combination of both? Well, I leave that for my audience to judge.

The implication that AFCON is not a “major” tournament compared to the Euros or Copa América is problematic for several reasons:

1. Continental Equivalence

If the Euros, Copa América, and Asian Cup are recognized as major tournaments, then AFCON—being the highest competition in Africa—must be accorded the same respect. Africa has produced multiple world-class players and World Cup contenders, proving its footballing pedigree.

2. Global Influence

AFCON garners millions of viewers worldwide. Its cultural and sporting significance extends beyond Africa, with global audiences tuning in to watch elite football. The excitement, skill level, and historical rivalries match those of any international tournament. As a matter of fact, the last edition that took place in Cote d’Ivoire, last year, attracted no fewer than 2 billion audience, globally, which is unprecedented. Meanwhile, the record audience in the history of the Euros was in 2016, during it recorded about 600 million global viewership. Yet, in warped thinking of Carragher and one clownish character called Joey Barton, it (AFCON) is not a major tournament compared to their own over-rated continental championship. Football is played for the people – for the fans. And if a tournament (like the AFCON) has done as much as attracted as many as over 2 billion viewers, out of about 8 billion people living on the planet earth, in a single edition, it is, I think, up there with the major ones like the Copa America, European Cup, Asian Cup, and even the World Cup (if that of the World Cup won’t sound like an exaggeration). That pervert called Barton referenced, among other incidents, the attack by an Angolan rebel group on the team bus of the Togolesse national team bus in 2010, during which some players lost their lives, as though something worse than has never happened in England/Europe. For the record, Hillsborough disaster of 1989 is one. The Heysel Stadium disaster, is another. Or does he think we don’t know why all English teams were banned from participating in the champions league for 5 years, starting from 1985? Soccer hooliganism is the name of the disease. The funniest thing is that, Barton doesn’t even seem to see himself as an advertisement of the ugliest side of the English football, considering his scandal and controversy-tainted playing career. Barton talked about a referee ending a game prematurely, in error, and then restarting it shortly afterwards. He pretends to have forgotten that, an English referee, Graham Poll, who “mistakenly” issue three (3) yellow cards to Croatian, Josip Šimunić, before sending him off, at the Germany 2006, World Cup – Croatia versus Australia is an English man, and not African. But we have not forgotten. Furthermore, he talked about allegation of bribery among African referee, maybe, he was in the rehab, as a chronic alcoholic, when Calciopoli, the World’s most sophisticated match-fixing scandal happened in Italy
Again, does he think it was in Africa.

3. Historical Disrespect Towards African Football

European perspectives often downplay African football’s achievements. The perception that AFCON is less important is part of a broader issue where African players and competitions are undervalued. This mindset has persisted despite African teams making significant strides in international football, including Morocco’s historic World Cup semi-final run in 2022. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly difficult to divorce this mindset from the chronic racism that has succeeded in conning the whole world into believing that it does not exist in England. But the ambassadors of racism who grace the screens of out TV screens, masquerading as football pundits have betrayed that notion of non-existence.

4. Hypocrisy in Club vs. Country Debates

When European players leave for the Euros or Copa América, their absence is seen as an honor and a duty to their nation. But when African players go for AFCON, it is often viewed as an inconvenience to clubs. This double standard is evident in how players like Salah, Sadio Mané, and Riyad Mahrez are pressured to prioritize club football over representing their countries. These racists should be informed that, the World Football-governing body – FIFA, do not compel clubs to release players for national teams’ assignments, when they’re participating in “a non-major tournament”. To the best of my knowledge, clubs, even including the ones run by Carragher’s racist paymasters dare not violate it. That could annoying but it is what it is – the rule of the game.

AFCON, in conclusion, is undeniably a major international tournament, on par with the best continental competitions in world football. Carragher and others who dismiss its significance fail to recognize the history, talent, and passion that make AFCON special. Rather than viewing it as an inconvenience, the football world should celebrate AFCON as an essential part of the sport’s rich global diversity. The growth of African football is undeniable, and so is AFCON’s rightful place among the world’s elite tournaments. It is such a shame that the growth is proving irritable to Carragher and his co-travelers. Do I need to remind him that the club (Liverpool) that he claims to be so passionately in love with, would suffer a dip in fortune, if Mo Salah and his contribution to the past decade were to be removed from the club?

Responses to Carragher by AFCON legends: My solace.

Among all the responses to Carragher’s uninformed remark about the AFCON, those of Austin Jay Jay Okocha, and John Obi Mikel give me the greatest solace, with a soothing effect. The former Bolton Wanderers captain said:

“There are some players that would say something and you just have to overlook it. If you look at their career, if you look at the type of football they played, then you can understand. I mean… you won’t want your son to be like [Jamie] Carragher. So you can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”
Meanwhile, Mikel said in his “Obi One” podcast:

“I don’t care what he says, I’ve played in it, I’ve won it. It’s not his f**king place to discredit the African Cup of Nations. I am angry. He spent so many years playing for Liverpool and didn’t win the Premier League, and he sits there week in week out, trying to tell people how to win the league.

In his own response, former Algeria International, Adlène Guedioura took to Twitter writing, “AFCON is major, AFRICA is BIG. You never lived this…” emphasizing the importance of the tournament and its cultural significance, with a picture of him celebrating their 2019 triumph.

Another lethal response, as reported by The Punch newspaper, came from Abiodun Obafemi, who was among Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team. He said: “If the Euros is a Major tournament so also is AFCON. I stopped taking whatever Carragher says seriously, a long time ago, because all he failed to do, all his life as an average player, who won nothing, he now wants to do as a pundit.” This is savagery in motion. But I am enjoying every bit of it. Carragher deserves it.

To corroborate Okocha’s point that, you won’t want your son to be like Carragher, he ranks 2nd on the list of “own goal” scorers in the history of the English Premier League (7), “bested”, only, by Richard Dunne(10). This is a fellow who played 38 times for his national team – “The Three Lions” without scoring a goal. So nobody would truly, “want his son to be like Carragher”.

Liverpool Football club stands indicted

Why do I have the feeling that Liverpool football club is culpable in all of this? One should be pardoned for feeling that club stands indicted for this reason: some years back, it was Jurgen Klopp , when he was the coach of Liverpool football club, belittling the tournament, calling it a “little tournament”. Now, Jamie Carragher, another character with a claim to being a legend of, and very strong tie with, the club. I, now, shudder to ask, are they echoing what Liverpool football club represent? Is what they both said a reflection of what Liverpool think of the AFCON? What are they smoking at Anfield? I hope to be wrong.

All these “free kicks from the legends of the African game who had lived the experience of winning it, and have also paid their dues in various European clubs as footballers are enough for the very average Carragher of an ex-player, who thinks he knows it all in football. He needs to have a rethink, and accord African football its deserved respect. It is not our (Africans’) fault that Carragher never experienced any moment of glory with the Three Lions of England. On a final note, Carragher, and those he represents with that ignorance-induced opinion, needs to be reminded of the fact that, what makes a football competition major is neither the nationality nor the skin colour of those in attendance, but the number and the kind of convivial atmosphere created by those involved. It is not the location of the event either. The quality and the pedigree of the players on parade is a factor, and I am very sure, as a pundit, Carragher has the stats of how many English players are being benched by players of African descent, week in, week out in the English Premier League. Ditto for other leagues across Europe. It would be a massive shame, if Mo Salah finishes the season on high, and those who in Balon d’Or still find him underserving of the award, due, either to the colour of skin or his passport.

Abubakar writes from Ilorin, Kwara state. He can be reached via 08051388285 or [email protected]