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Over the weekend, a former Liverpool star Carragher while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the 2025 omitted AFCON as a major tournament.

Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has said the Africa Cup Of Nations(AFCON) needs to be given the same prestige as the likes of the World Cup and other major trophy tournament.

”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 during a podcast on Monday.

The 46-year-old’s comments come after fellow Englishman and pundit, Jamie Carragher speaking after Liverpool‘s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, felt that Mohamed Salah playing in AFCON was a drawback in his becoming the best player in the world.

According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) shattered viewership records, reaching a total of 2.2 billion viewers worldwide

This surpassed the viewership of the Super Bowl in the United States, which averaged 123.4 million viewers that same year, a 1.8 billion gap.

The competition also saw a significant increase in digital engagement, with 2.1 billion digital interactions, 3.1 billion TikTok video views, and 12.5 million Instagram views.

Despite these impressive statistics, the six-time Premier League winner said such statements are due to ignorance as the cup competition has not gained the recognition it deserves even though it has provided players that have thrived in Europe.

”That comment is representative of the majority of the people out there, I don’t think that is right, that is ignorant. That is kind of a full process because of the Africa Cup of Nations.If you go to Abedi Pele, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o all these players Riyad Mahrez, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, we have to win this, it is a demand in their country to win this ”

”Yes, it doesn’t get back resources-wise like the Euros etc but that doesn’t mean you have to devalue it. It is a continent of huge power, a continent that contributes to European football, immensely; like the number of players in Europe and winning things from the African continent is a ridiculous number,” he said.

Ferdinand stated that the football regulatory body, FIFA has a big role to play in changing this narrative and placing the cup competition alongside the Euros and COPA America

”I understand what Jamie is saying but I don’t agree with it and it is not right the majority of people out there think so and I think that federations like FIFA need to implement a language around the AFCON that actually equals the Euris and COPA America that is the point.”

Jamie was trying to say; well I think he is right in what he is saying because that is what happens; If Mo Salah wins the Africa Cup of Nations that would have no bearing on anyone’s voting when they vote for the Ballon d Ór and that is wrong; that was what he was saying one part of his argument was.

Salah has yet to lift the African continental title but has twice been a runner-up doing so in 2017 and 2021.

”If Mane finished second in 2022, that has no bearing on anyone’s vote, in the captains, media and all the managers; I don’t think they would go (oh before I make an adjustment on who made the top three, where did Mo Salah finish in the Africa Cup of Nations).”

”I didn’t think anyone asks that question and that is wrong, that is where it needs to be changed and I think that is where the language, the media, and FIFA need to start punching that home that the Africa Nations Cup need to be taken seriously as the COPA America and the Euros”

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2025/02/25/carragher-afcon-needs-more-respect-rio-ferdinand/

I miss jose piesero that man coach Nigeria with passion

Nigerians never know what dey have i see commitment from jose . Nigeria would have build on defensive couter attack system to the world cup which would be hard for any nation to penetrate Nff are fools . Pisero is a tournament coach

Freshtruth:
I miss jose piesero that man coach Nigeria with passion

Nigerians never know what dey have i see commitment from jose

Passion and Competence is not the same.

Poseiro no sabi

Carragher is just chasing clout, he's not relevant, stop giving that clown attention

AFCON self should respect himself

Jimmy is an slowpoke

Carragher is the worst British pundit I have ever seen. His analysis is usually rubbish.

I have grown past the stage of putting emotions on issues. Emotionally weak men make worst decisions. Remove emotions so that you can see clearly. If Africa is truly doing as expected, we definitely won't be treated with contempt. The Whites see how we are suffering, don't mind being 2nd class citizens in their countries just to escape ours, poor quality in sports and other activities, our leaders borrow from them despite huge natural resources that can sufficiently transform the whole country continent and world if properly harnessed, devoid of bribery and corruption, to mention a few, yet, you still want them to respect and recognize you. On a serious note, nor be juju be that!?

Let us all (government and citizens) begin to do the right thing and see if the respect they have for us doesn't increase. Until then, we should continue acting as though nothing is wrong, we are just being victimized by the "racist" Whites (according to black men, who never take responsibility for their actions) ...

T

AFCON. is that not the same tournament where referee ended the match at 85 mins in The match between Mali and Tunisia?

"Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has said the Africa Cup Of Nations(AFCON) needs to be given the same prestige as the likes of the World Cup and other major trophy tournament."

Yeah someone should put PRESTIGE in a box and hand it to us. Hello, prestige is EARNED and not GIVEN. Whenever we start taking ourselves seriously in Africa, the world will know but for now, we are still jonsing.

as far as football is concerned AFCON is the only tournament I watch from opening ceremony to finals, second is world cup to some extent, to everyone his preference, whoever the slowpoke is should go fxxx himself, what does he know about AFCON

Says someone who never won the premier league before!

Abeg!

D trophy is respected... English players wey never win any international trophy in over 60 yrs no go tell us say our African trophy no dey important

Which of the football tournament in the world is more harder than Africa cup of nations except the world cup. European championship is very easy to predict and Copa America is two countries cup. Brazil or Argentina cup. James just talking out of point.

MANCHESTER UNITED LEGEND.#RESPECT

Imagine if all the African players started using their massive salaries to invest in an African super league. It's like if every black player in the NBA left to join a black-only league. WHO would be watching the NBA, Premier League or Euro cups?

It's very telling how hockey is clawing at relevance by trying to show black players and get more black people to play that dumb "sport."

Though Carragher is a bastard with a certificate, but truth be told, we Africans need to do a lot for AFCON to be respected.

First, this idea of the tournament being moved from January to April then to October and even. December atimes should stop.
Immediately,. the foreign clubs. complain about players availability, we start shifting it up and down. This should stop .

Donkey

We have have to earn the respect. It all trickles down to our leaders.
What are the resources put into our leagues? Can the CAF Champions compete with UEFA?
If they're not on the same level,then don't expect Europeans to respect AFCON

Africans and their sense of inferiority.

Afcon is not rated ,just as Asian cup and America's cup is not rated because no teams from these continent won world cups.

Even though Asian cup earn billions more viwers than 2.2 billion viewers of Afcons and Americas cup earn billion more dollars compared to Afcons.

None of the fans from these continents give a
Sh@T about comments about clearly inferior tournaments.
But trust the Africans, with their inferior mentality will cry foul.
Respect is earned not deserved.

Racism would reduced drastically if only Africans stop licking their ass.

Tell him ooooo

Let FIFA allow confederations like CAF to invite teams like England or Argentina for AFCON. Let them come and play and see if they would make it to the semi finals.

YoungLionken:
I have grown past the stage of putting emotions on issues. Emotionally weak men make worst decisions. Remove emotions so that you can see clearly. If Africa is truly doing as expected, we definitely won't be treated with contempt. The Whites see how we are suffering, don't mind being 2nd class citizens in their countries just to escape ours, poor quality in sports and other activities, our leaders borrow from them despite huge natural resources that can sufficiently transform the whole country continent and world if properly harnessed, devoid of bribery and corruption, to mention a few, yet, you still want them to respect and recognize you. On a serious note, nor be juju be that!?

Let us all (government and citizens) begin to do the right thing and see if the respect they have for us doesn't increase, until then, we should continue acting as though nothing is wrong, we are just being victimized by the "racist" Whites ...

Racism is also emotional. Stupid ignorant emotion.

That's not to say you don't have a point. You do. But it's two ways, not one way.

Carragher smoke 🚬 igbo come studio the day wey him talk that thing

The continent of Africa is taken as a joke everywhere else in the world. In everything. Arts, science, even sports.
Can we ever change this? Or do we just accept it as our lot and just carry on? Something to think about.

AllBlack:
AFCON. is that not the same tournament where referee ended the match at 85 mins in The match between Mali and Tunisia?

"Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has said the Africa Cup Of Nations(AFCON) needs to be given the same prestige as the likes of the World Cup and other major trophy tournament."

Yeah someone should put PRESTIGE in a box and hand it to us. Hello, prestige is EARNED and not GIVEN. Whenever we start taking ourselves seriously in Africa, the world will know but for now, we are still jonsing.

Did you watch the last AFCON?!
Inferiority complex is your problem