Adedokun Waliyu 
Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has blasted a former English star Jamie Carragher for dismissing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a major tournament.
Carragher while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or said the Egyptian is at a disadvantage because of his inability to win a major tournament.
The former defender dismissed AFCON as a major competition. But that comment has ignited a barrage of criticisms from Africa including Mikel who labelled Carragher’s comment 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 won the 2013 AFCON with the Super Eagles and also featured for Chelsea in the English Premier League where he equally clinched a title.
According to the former midfielder, Africans including himself contributed to the growth of the game in England with the Premier League enjoying massive followership on the continent.
As far as he is concerned, Africa deserves more respect for its role in the development of football.
“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”.
Earlier, a former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand called for the continental tournament to be given more respect.
“It should be respected more than it is but what I would say is the lack of resources put into it.. the narrative from the media that comes out is that it is a Mickey Mouse tournament,” Ferdinand said in a podcast.
