Jamie Carragher Clarifies Comments on Mo Salah and AFCON in First TV Appearance Since Backlash
Jamie Carragher has responded to criticism over his comments regarding Mo Salah and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during his first TV appearance since the controversy.
Following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on February 23, the Sky Sports panel discussed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. The Egyptian forward is enjoying a stellar season, with 30 goals and 22 assists across all competitions.
However, Carragher sparked debate when, in response to Daniel Sturridge’s remarks, he suggested Salah’s chances were affected by playing for Egypt, as they are unlikely to compete for the biggest international titles. He stated:
> “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 not got a great chance of winning, I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament.”
Micah Richards quickly interjected, asserting that AFCON is a significant competition, emphasizing:
> “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.”
Carragher then asked whether Egypt, despite their seven AFCON titles, would be contenders for the World Cup. His facial expression and tone led to widespread criticism, with many perceiving his remarks as dismissive.
Several African football icons, including John Obi Mikel and Jay-Jay Okocha, condemned Carragher’s comments, while Rio Ferdinand accused him of having an “ignorant thought process.” In response, Carragher hit back on Instagram, calling Ferdinand a “clown.”
After initially addressing the issue via a repost on social media, Carragher formally responded on CBS Sports’ Golazo, where he appeared alongside Richards, Thierry Henry, and Kate Abdo. He acknowledged that his wording had been “clumsy” and sought to clarify his stance:
> “I have strong opinions on the game, and I love debate, but what I never want to be described as is ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim—whether towards a club, player, country, continent, or international tournament.”
Carragher admitted his mistake in downplaying AFCON’s importance:
> “Where I got it wrong was how I phrased it. I described AFCON as not a major tournament, which was clumsy. My point was about how tournaments influence Ballon d’Or voting. It’s not just AFCON—competitions like the Asian Cup and Gold Cup also don’t seem to carry the same weight as the World Cup or Copa América.”
He explained that his comments were based on historical trends in Ballon d’Or voting, rather than personal opinion:
> “Some tournaments don’t seem to resonate as much with voters. That’s not my opinion—that’s a fact based on the past 40 or 50 years of Ballon d’Or winners.”
Carragher concluded by stressing that he never intended to offend and will be more mindful of his wording in the future:
> “I should have been more careful with my language. The Ballon d’Or used to be the European Footballer of the Year, so there may still be a bias towards European competitions. But my goal was never to be offensive, and hopefully, this helps clarify things.”
Salah remains the bookmakers’ favorite to win the Ballon d’Or, which would make him the first African winner since George Weah in 1995. His highest finish in the rankings was fifth place in both 2019 and 2022, the latter year seeing Sadio Mané finish second after leading Senegal to an AFCON triumph over Egypt.
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