Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher sparked debate by viewing the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major football match.
Carragher’s comments came after an impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
In that match, Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah once again showed off his outstanding talents, for teammate Dominik Szoboszlai at Etihad Stadium ) made significant contributions. Salah’s performance continues to develop on a great season.
Carragher said on Sky Sports that Salah’s chances of winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award could be jeopardized as he represents Egypt , and has achieved relatively limited success on the global stage.
He said “The problem is the fact that he is playing for Egypt, he may not be participating in a major tournament that provides reliable opportunities for victory.”
Carragher further elaborates on it, “Usually, the top players that shine in the Champions League or important international championships are those who compete for Ballon d’Or. You now look at players like Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, who are both excellent in the strong Real Madrid, they Win the Champions League.”
In response, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards challenged Carragher’s position, noting that “Let me clarify: AFCON is indeed a big game. It’s frustrating to hear some sacks, especially when countless fans across Africa and around the world are fully invested. AFCON has a lot of significance in the football world.”
Carragher refuted this by questioning Egypt’s prospects as a World Cup contender, meaning only the highest international match has a big impact on the vote of Ballon d’Or.
However, former England striker Daniel Sturridge decided to assert Carragher’s argument by asserting “Winning prestigious matches, such as the UEFA European Championship or Copa América, is considered a great achievement, so AFCON deserves to be regarded as with the same level of respect and prestige.”
