Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has criticized former English footballer Jamie Carragher for downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a significant tournament.
Carragher, while analyzing Mohamed Salah’s prospects of winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or, argued that the Egyptian faces a disadvantage due to his failure to secure a major international trophy.
In his remarks, the former defender dismissed AFCON as a major competition, sparking widespread backlash, particularly from Africans. Mikel joined the critics, condemning Carragher’s statement as disrespectful.
“It’s so disrespectful what he said, and this is coming from someone who never won any major international competition with England,” Mikel said on The Obi One podcast.
“His statement was absolutely wrong. I hope he will come out and make a massive apology because he owes people around the world an apology. [It was] ignorant to disrespect such a wonderful tournament.”
Mikel, who was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 AFCON, also played for Chelsea in the English Premier League, where he secured a league title.
The former midfielder emphasized that Africans, including himself, have played a crucial role in the growth of football in England, with the Premier League enjoying immense support across the continent.
In his view, Africa deserves greater recognition and respect for its contributions to the sport’s development.
“Children, kids, grow up watching their idols, watching and supporting their country because the African Cup of Nations is what inspires them,” the former Chelsea player said.
“The next generation, the influx of African players coming into the Premier League, coming to Europe to play, it’s all because they grew up watching the African Cup of Nations”.
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