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Rio Ferdinand gave a balanced view concerning Jamie Carragher's disparaging remark about the AFCON.
While Rio Ferdinand largely disagreed with Jamie Carragher's scoffing at the African Cup of Nations, he accepted some of the Liverpool legend’s points about the role AFCON plays in Ballon d'Or voting.
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15:46 - 24.02.2025
2025 Ballon d'Or: Liverpool legends agree Mo Salah is favourite ahead of Mbappe, Vinicius
Former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Carragher have declared that Mo Salah deserves Ballon d’or.
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15:00 - 24.02.2025
‘Scoffing in ignorance’ - African fans slam Liverpool legend for disrespecting AFCON after Mohamed Salah comment
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is feeling the heat after his comments that have been deemed disrespectful towards the Africa Cup of Nations.
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What happened?
In speculating about Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this season, former Liverpool defender Carragher slighted the AFCON, as he scoffed at the idea that the Cup of Nations is a major tournament.
Carragher posited that Salah was handicapped, unlike his European and South American counterparts, as he had no other opportunity to win a “major tournament” outside Liverpool.
In his argument, he said that Egypt were not a probable contender for the World Cup. He said that to suggest that was the only “major tournament” available to African nations, disregarding the AFCON while implying the Euros and Copa America were majors.
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Ferdinand’s retort
Speaking on Ferdinand Presents, the Manchester United legend first established his stance on the AFCON. He criticised those who belittle the tournament, citing the importance to the competing nations.
“That comment is representative of the majority of people out there,” Ferdinand said about Carragher’s AFCON swipe.
“I don't think that's right. I think it's ignorant, that thought process, because the African Cup of Nations; if you go to Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Abedi Pele, Mahrez, Mo Salah, Mane now—they'll tell you, we have to win this. There's a demand in their countries to win this.
“Yes, it doesn't get backed resources-wise like the Euros; it doesn't mean you have to devalue it. It's a continent of huge power, a continent that contributes to European football through players, immensely, massively.
“Like, the amount of players that are representing football clubs in Europe and winning things from the African continent is, like, crazy, you know? it's, it's ridiculous. So it should be respected more than it is.
“But what I would say is because of the lack of resources that are put into it—and listen, we've had some African players that come out and have actually canned it for the lack of resources and hotel rooms and what's what goes on, yeah, flight issues, etc.
“Then obviously the narrative then from the media becomes, oh, it's like it's a Mickey Mouse tournament, but it ain't.”
Where Ferdinand agrees with Carragher
While he disagreed that the AFCON was a minor tournament, Ferdinand believes the Liverpool record appearance maker in the Premier League was speaking to the perception of the competition.
The former Manchester United star agrees that the AFCON holds little sway in Ballon d'Or voting as the Euros and Copa America have proven to have in recent years. He charged FIFA to afford more prominence to the competition in its messaging and concerning voting awards.
“I understand what Jamie's saying, but I don't agree with it. But I understand that that is the majority's fault if we're honest, and it's not right,” Ferdinand continued.
“But a majority of people out there do think that about the African Nations Cup, but I think that the federations like FIFA need to make sure that they implement a way of thinking and language around the African nations that actually equals the Euros and the Copa America. I think that's the point.
“What Jamie was trying to say as well, where again I think he's right in what he's saying because that is what happens. If Mo Salah won the African Nations Cup,, that would have no bearing on anyone's voting, which is when they vote for, for, for the Ballon d'Or, which is absolutely wrong.
“That's what he was saying, and one of the parts of his argument was if, if Mane finished second, I think it's 2022, that has no bearing on anyone's vote. They, I don't think anyone when they're voting, the captains and the media and all the managers, I don't think they go, Oh, before I just make a judgement on who is the top three, where did Mo Salah had to finish in the African nations? I don't think anyone asked that question and that's wrong. That's where it needs to be changed.
“I think that's where, again, the language, where media, where FIFA needs to start really punching it home, that the African nations has to be taken as serious as the Copa America and the Euros.”
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