By Victor Kanayo
A Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has come under intense “lashes” after he claimed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) isn’t a major tournament.
Carragher had argued that AFCON was lowly rated following Liverpool’s 2-0 win at Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s lack of success on the global stage could hinder the player’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year.
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.”
However, Carragher had dose of hit backs by former internationals.
Former Manchester City defender, Micah Richards, said, “Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying ‘they aren’t taking it seriously’. AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know.”
Also, former England striker, Daniel Sturridge, shut down the argument, saying, “If you win the Euros or Copa America, it’s deemed to be big, so the AFCON is on the same level.”
There were many other responses by other football enthusiasts.
