Is the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) a major tournament? 

That question sparked a heated debate following comments made by former Liverpool defender and current TV pundit Jamie Carragher.

On Sunday evening, after Mohamed Salah’s stellar performance against Manchester City—where he scored and assisted in Liverpool’s 2–0 win—Carragher questioned Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. Despite Salah’s unprecedented statistical run—25 goals and 16 assists this Premier League season with still a third of the season to go—Carragher suggested that Salah is at a disadvantage because he represents Egypt, implying that even winning AFCON wouldn’t significantly boost his Ballon d’Or credentials.

“I think the problem is he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in a major tournament or one he has a great chance of winning. It’s either the Champions League or a major tournament,” Carragher stated.

His co-pundits, Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, quickly countered, insisting that AFCON is a major tournament. but Carragher seemed to laugh off their statements as if it was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard all year. 

Unsurprisingly, African social media erupted in reaction to Carragher’s comments and disposition. Football fans were quick to condemn Carragher’s remarks as disrespectful and dismissive of AFCON’s significance. Prominent voices, including former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and beIN Sports presenter Mohammed Saadoun Al-Kuwari also pushed back, with the latter saying, “I like [Carragher] as a player, but I completely disagree—AFCON is big for African players.”

Even after the backlash, Carragher stood by his stance. While he admitted his wording was “clumsy,” he maintained that AFCON doesn’t hold the same weight as other continental tournaments in the eyes of global football, which, he argued, is why African players often struggle for individual recognition.

So, what should we make of all this?

To be honest, my first reaction was indifference. Carragher isn’t an African football expert, nor is he an authority like respected journalists Mark Gleeson, Frank Simon, or Michael Oti Adjei. Expecting him to fully grasp AFCON’s importance is like expecting my North American palate to have a refined taste for attiéké or ugali—just because I am not partial to them doesn’t mean that they are not world-class dishes.

However, what did concern me was the sheer scale of outrage. It hinted at a certain insecurity within African football circles. Many defenders of AFCON pointed to the tournament’s growing viewership and the world-class talent it showcases as proof of its importance. And while these arguments hold weight, they somewhat miss the point.

AFCON isn’t “major” because of broadcast numbers or star power—it’s major because it’s ours, and we love it. That’s not just a sappy slogan—the stable foundation for the long-term future of any event can be established only if the people who host, compete in, and consume the event love it. 

Last year, Salah himself said, “I can assure you that [AFCON] is the trophy that I want to win most.” We don’t need the validation of Jamie Carragher or any other European football pundit to understand that AFCON is a major tournament that is an essential component in an African footballer’s career.

The true danger in Carragher’s comments is not his belief that since Salah is “with Egypt, he’s probably not playing in a major tournament.” It’s that Carragher’s Eurocentric opinions, broadcast on major networks like Sky Sports and CBS, spur a catch-22 that shapes perceptions that influence material decisions, such as transfer fees, salaries, and global award considerations like the Ballon d’Or. 

It is no secret that African players tend to be undervalued in world football, part of that is due to concrete explanations, such as their missing time during the Africa Cup of Nations. Some of it is due to subpar or lesser-connected player representation. But a lot of it is due to the widespread disrespect of African football accomplishments, and that may be remedied only when media spaces are a little more inclusive and a little less Eurocentric.

Until then, let’s focus on what truly matters—celebrating Mohamed Salah’s historic run toward becoming Africa’s second-ever Ballon d’Or winner and enjoying our 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December.