₦airaland Forum

TheGoodJoe:
With time, most of the corrupt elites will fade away. Then credible people will run Africa. Then you will see rapid growth. I see it coming.

We can build our leagues with the right management and investments. Until then, Europeans will still use us to play kalo kalo.

You’re very right, nothing remains the same forever. Look at the entertainment industry in Nigeria today. It has become a global phenomenon. The day we stop seeing football or sports as a social service, we will emerge

TheGoodJoe:
Mourinho should learn to leave out idiomatic expressions that have Monkeys in it, due to the racial reference that comes with it.

No human should be referred to as a monkey idiomatically sef, it’s all shades of wrong.

TheLoneCitizen:
Bro said mediocrity is "true African spirit"

The true African spirit is Afcon being hosted around Africa, don’t get it twisted

codemaniacs:
it is already big enough but mainly big to Africans and diaspora Africans ..

As for globally big enough, that will require all the currencies of the African countries to be strong and since Africa did not create the global financial system then it will never ever be big enough because the global financial system ensures that most or all black African countries have bad currencies..

Oga in my church here in the uk, on the Sunday of the Afcon final my Oyinbo pastor announced in church wishing Nigerias all the best, some bars and clubs had viewing centres with Afcon in their schedule, at work they talked about the competition. We forget that so many European clubs are now represented in Afcon with many fans around the world keeping tab on their club players. That’s how big Afcon has become. Na bad belle Dey worry people like carragher and those who keep talking down on the event. A billion dollars was spent by the cotedvoire govt on the last Afcon. That’s unprecedented and shows how Afcon has evolved. I bet you with the next one in Morocco, we will be shocked with the popularity as Morocco is even a tourist destination for Europeans. The last APOTY awards and the viewership it receives is a taste of what to expect in Morocco.

TheLoneCitizen:
Exactly my point.

World Cup was held in Southern hemisphere because it is their coolest period, meaning a compromise is possible.

So why can't you just continue this, AFCON in southern hemisphere until the Northern hemisphere is rich enough to afford AC stadium like Qatar?

No? AFCON must be held in northern hemisphere because that's where all the footballing nations are. Isn't that stubbornness?

"which actually favoured the Europeans" my good man, it favoured the whole world. Even Africans cannot play in that heat.

Qatar cannot host in summer, but they hosted in a period (November) which is the same as West Africa's hottest.


"The tournament is for Africans", but you think holding it in a period where you're worried about winning league title and progressing from your Afcon group in the same month favours the player.

That you always have to choose between country and club. That you always have to give 50% for country so you don't return injured?

"Has that stopped European clubs?"

Fergie, one of the most dominant managers in history refused Africans just for this reason.
Pep likely same.
Mourinho who loves Africans fought Mikel over AFCON.
Klopp called it a small tournament over this reason.

But yes, it doesn't play on the minds of clubs.

It’s left for any African player to decide whether he wants to play in Afcon or not or is it that compulsory to play for the national team? I don’t think so. If as an African player you feel your European club is more important then go ahead with your club. We’ve seen so many African players do this including Nigerian players.

Your point that Afcon should be held in the southern hemisphere of Africa to please Europe is baseless, that can never be the true African spirit. We are a liberated people and it’s in our own will to decide what’s best for us, call it stubbornness, that’s anyone’s cup of tea.

I hope you know the same Mikel had issues with Conte over appearance in olympics and not even Afcon, was olympics an Afcon event? I don’t think so. The same Man U that refused to buy African players where are they today? Are they not lining up to buy osihmen now? You see now!

TheLoneCitizen:
When you say fixed? Changing from 12:30pm to 3PM kick off is not as significant as January to June. So nothing big is done for Asia or America.

The weather issue is true, but this is 2025.

Qatar's highest temperature during World Cup is hotter than Ivory Coast in off-season.

And since you're going the world cup route, how did South Africa host a one of the best world cups in history during the off-season?



Talking about world revolving around Europe. We need to accept some truths.

The world revolves around USA.
When it comes to manufacturing - China
When it comes to football - Europe.

Stop trying to fight it. Europe is where football lives and they dictate the football calender. Let's accept that and adapt.

The World Cup in South Africa was in winter (June/July is winter in South Africa) which actually favoured the Europeans, there was no way Qatar will host the World Cup in June as even the Europeans can’t cope with the extreme heat.

The Afcon is a tournament for African players and the timing must favour the players first before any other party including Europe. If Europe can’t adapt that’s their problem. Has that even stopped European clubs having African players? I don’t think so.

TheLoneCitizen:
No until we move to off-season. June/July

European football is where football peaks and we have to accept it.

You can't be dragging prime time with European leagues, you'll always lose.

The quality is surely there. What we need now is attention

The off season can’t work because it’s out of human control due to weather. It’s left for the Europeans to adapt like they did for the World Cup in Qatar which was held towards the end of the year. The world does not and cannot revolve around Europe alone. Are you aware some European league fixtures these days are now fixed or adjusted to accommodate viewers in Asia and other time zones now, that’s the world we live in now. Folks like carragher are still living in the past.

elyte89:
All dis mourinho like mikel,na older brother to etoo etc all those ones no be talk ,d little years I av spent in uk 🇬🇧,I av come to realise that an average white doesn’t rate or like blacks ,forget talks …we c dis every day in our workplace ..d hatred in dem just varies …I don’t trust dem a bit in my workplace. They will be literally smiling at you while interacting with u,not knowing that Dey re already killing you behind.

Unfortunately this is true but some will argue that’s it’s pity party or trying to form victim. The rise of far right politics is no longer helping matters. The same people who created and benefited from globalism now see it as an issue. All institutions built to foster diversity and inclusion by the same people they are now trying to pull it down by themselves, very funny and tiring.

TheLoneCitizen:
By the way, Caraggher was right.

AFCON is still not a big enough tournament to decide the Ballon d'Or.

When will it be big enough? Is it until we beg some European teams to participate cos I no understand Una again for this place

Mourinho mouth will always put him in trouble wherever he goes. He’s my man but if there are allegations let it be investigated so we know the actual truth so no one escapes punishment in the future under any guise. Too much wahala in the world these days sef!

zicky:
Makes the point that Balon d'Or Europe's best-kept secret can only be won by Europeans and whomever they choose to award it. Africans don't stand a chance cos the world begins and ends with Europe.

The stupid guy in question sef has further justified your point here and that's how they are

https://x.com/Carra23/status/1894106555668115835

mrwilliams9:
No, the issue I have with Jamie is he said AFCON is not a major tournament. That is categorically false.

As for AFCON not being a major factor in B’dor voting, that is a separate issue in of itself. I agree that winning the Euros will have more sway than the AFCON all else being equal but that was not what Jamie said.

Let’s just focus on what was said. If he wanted to add context to his statement, he should have done so.

when you have folks who think like Carragher voting what do you expect? he's only expressing how the voters' minds work

This was Ian wright in 2021

“Is there ever a tournament more disrespected than the Africa Cup of Nations? There is no greater honour than representing your country. The coverage is completely tinged with racism.” - Ian Wright, December 2021. pic.twitter.com/Qum4so3agK

— Olúwashínà Òkélèjì (@oluwashina) February 24, 2025

He even went on to say then that the best players in Europe as at when he was speaking were from Africa and ‘if we love them at club level why can’t we love them at international level’

If we like let’s continue to listen to dumbos like carragher!

JohnBullMySon:
It should be happening regularly. You pick one case and make it sound like the Europeans and the South Americans have not been doing it severally for years.

And remember that Moroccos team was made up of players literally born and developed in Europe but switched allegiance.

Why did you not mention it? When did we start seeing the increased number of participating African teams? That’s the problem we will never highlight the improvements being made but stick with the past and talking about switching allegiance is it only peculiar to African teams? Is it not happening with European teams too and others. That’s the current world we live in.

JohnBullMySon:
You have more slots than South America yet South America has won 2 of the last six tournaments.

We take the best five to the WC so If African teams were that good, they should be knocking out European teams. Yet African teams have only made it to the quarters twice.

Did an African team not make semi finals the last time Knocking out European teams?

JohnBullMySon:
Yeah i did listen to what he said.

Do you realize that for every top flight African legend you name, there will be at least ten European equivalents?

I’m not saying that AFCON is not a great product. What I’m effectively saying is that when it comes to global achievements, you will find it very difficult to compete toe-to-toe with the European equivalent. There’s a significant performance gap.

That’s because you have more European teams in global competitions than African teams so what do you expect? There was a time just one or two African teams go to the World Cup so why won’t European teams have more global achievements? That’s basic

And talking about top flight African players how many European players have the kind of feat Ademola had last year for him to be in 14th place. That’s what Ferdinand is taking about that the narrative about Afcon and what these African players contribute to the game is not highlighted enough by even FIFA.

JohnBullMySon:
No it’s not vice versa. Not at all. There’s no European player trained in Africa.

The problem with some Africans and Black countries is that they like to put on a facade and then get offended when someone comes with unfiltered truth.

Of course Liberal Europeans will pet you and try to massage faux achievements. Others won’t. Some with racist and disrespectful undertones. Some by just being brutally honest.

Rather the problem is that we allow the west lie to us that Africa contribute so little, did you listen to Ferdinand? The likes of Eto, abedi Pele, mane, drogba and others, you want to diminish these folks contributions to the European game?you know the tons of revenue these folks make for their clubs in large ROI? It’s because we don’t think transactionally that’s why we think some dumb dude in Europe is telling us unfiltered truth.

JohnBullMySon:
That’s a different conversation. The point is that CAF teams are not on par with European teams if we are being objective.

It’s part of the conversation as the country you Play for will determine how far you’ll go in ballon dor according to the gospel of carragher

And How many European teams are we talking about here? The entire European continent?

JohnBullMySon:
Remember that the context of that discussion was the Balon d'or. Carragher said that he feels part of the reason Salah has not won it is because he plays for Egypt. He didn't even mention AFCON, competition or popularity. It is similar to saying that the Dutch league top scorer will find it hard to win the golden ball. What is wrong in that statement?

Reason I don’t rate these individual awards when it’s folks like carragher that will vote who thinks the country you come from should also determine who wins best player. Imagine rating Ademola Lookman 14th place after such heroics last year.

JohnBullMySon:
The context was Balon d'or. AFCON might be a major tournament in the context of confederation cups. It could be competitive and entertaining. That does not make it on par with the Euros in terms of quality, which is what determines the Balon d'or. Your SS2 vs SS3 derby was also competitive and entertaining. Competition is relative, entertainment is subjective.

CAF best players developed and play among Europeans, CAF best squads are made up of Afro Europeans, ranging from 50% to almost the entire team in some cases. Morocco achieved the best record for an African team in WC2022 with a squad full of half-europeans. The success of African tournaments in recent times can almost be directly traced to The european football industry. If the by-product of Europe is improving Africa this much, it isn't wise to think that somehow, AFCON can stand toe-to-toe with Euros.

it's vice versa, the African players are also contributing hugely to the European game, if e easy make the Europeans run am alone make we see.

here is Rio Ferdinand view on the issue which is more mature

AFCON needs more respect… ✊🏽
It matters & federations need to do more to highlight this.

Ask the likes of Mo Salah, Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto'o what it means….#AFCON pic.twitter.com/w0NnYdMAqa

— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) February 24, 2025

daveP:
There's no tournament that has the kind of attention Euros has in the world of continental football. It doesn't mean other continental tournaments are not more competitive and entertaining than it. The crux is if AFCON is a major tourney and that is why that Carragher is getting dragged. He was corrected twice and he scoffed twice. Nowhere in his head does he want to take it as major. That's the height of dumbassery. And his bosses have a different pov and that's why they didn't upload it to their sites as well.


AFCON is more competitive and entertaining than Euros. The last one is enough as evidence.


Jamie Carragher is too wrong and that's a stubborn corner to stick too despite the correction. I trust Thierry.. if he was in that room, he go bend.

the last euros was boring, the truth is these folks will never agree about the standard of AFCON no matter how much money is poured into it. They hate any competition with their creation, no matter how much money is poured into the Saudi league, do you think they will ever rate it? Never. Today China makes Planes, Do you think they will ever agree it's better or up to standard with theirs, NO NEVER!

daveP:
See the nonsense Jamie Carragher said about Afcon on Sky? Micah corrected him but he maintained his myopic mindset of AFCON. Pls spare me any nonsense analysis. He's not justified with his stance. That's foolishness there.

Na Motsepe i blame sha. His tenure is annoying and terrible when it comes to scheduling tournaments.

Holy shit, even heard sky tv had to remove it from their page
https://x.com/ajsilvercfc/status/1893917353923981582?s=46&t=tk-1hGRx-HBpOmsos8uccA

It has nothing to do with the CAF president but the same reason why a Gasperini will say shit about Ademola!

lbrichman2:
What if he just wanted Lookman to get a standing ovation?

It has become an habit for the coach or are you just knowing this today?

BankyGee:
76' - Ademola Lookman subbed off 😶

Coach can’t bear the shame any longer 😂 looking more stupid

Bannedlargejr:
Why this mumu coach keeps removing starboy instead of allowing him to score his hatrick

The coach can’t stand star boy success, he’s a sadist par excellence

BankyGee:
Ademola Lookman BRACE!
🇳🇬🦅

That’s how you shut the mouths 👄 of narcissists!

This is ridiculous 😂

An off day for Ola Aina today

ChrisKels:
Adarabioyo is a calamity centre back.

oh my!

Chelsea just Dey disgrace man these days smh

chrisooblog:
Honestly the coach should just zip it. The other penalty goals Lookman scored for Atalanta didn't that show ability?

So it's Ademola's fault that a full grown ass man didn't have enough confidence to take a pen? Lookman don turn to psychologist who should be hyping players like he doesn't have enough pressures of his own to deal with. Abeg abeg.

The coach is just revealing more about himself, a narcissist!

charlesemeka85:
My younger brother,
Memory in football lasts 90mins,
The time of a Match and Next.
For us,
You are and will always be our Champion
Only he who has the courage to shoot can miss.
Thank you for your courage great champion.”

✍🏾Four-time African Footballer of the Year @SamuelEtoo

Na only man sabi fellow man! 👍