Former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has joined Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and Ahmed Musa in reacting to Jamie Carragher’s controversial comments about the Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Carragher recently downplayed AFCON’s significance on a show by arguing that it is not a major tournament capable of helping an African player win the Ballon d'Or.
The former Liverpool defender's comments have sparked backlash from African football figures, who view AFCON as one of the most prestigious competitions in the world.
— Arne Slot (@arneslotttt) February 24, 2025
Speaking to Sports Boom, Eguavoen defended the tournament and criticised Carragher for his stance.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the best football tournaments in the world. And if anyone feels otherwise, well, he's entitled to his opinion, but it’s rather unfair and disrespectful,” Eguavoen said. “Jamie Carragher spoke out of emotion and clearly doesn’t understand what this tournament means to us in Africa. That’s unfortunate.”
The former Super Eagles defender, who played in three AFCON tournaments and later coached Nigeria at the competition, weighed in on its global appeal.
“I'm proud of what it represents. The last tournament in Côte d'Ivoire, for example, was watched globally, and the quality of football was exceptional. Carragher's comments were emotional rather than thoughtful. I’m sure he’ll reflect on them and eventually apologise.”
Okocha and Musa defend AFCON
Eguavoen’s comments come after Jay-Jay Okocha and Ahmed Musa also hit back at Carragher’s remarks.
Former Super Eagles captain, Okocha, has earlier dismissed the claim that the tournament is not prestigious enough.
“There are some players that would say something and you just have to overlook it. If you look at their career, if you look at the type of football they played, then you can understand,” Okocha said.
“I mean… you won’t want your son to be like [Jamie] Carragher. So you can never appreciate African football or the talents that come from Africa.”
Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s most-capped player, also responded with a strong message to remind Carragher of how important African football is.
READ MORE: Mikel and Drogba: Ex-Chelsea stars stand with Jose Mourinho amidst “racist” scuffle with Galatasaray
Eguavoen urges players to prioritise AFCON
Eguavoen also called on African players to value AFCON despite concerns over club commitments.
“Players need to shift their mindset and take the tournament seriously. I understand their concerns—losing their spot in the club team or financial considerations—but AFCON deserves respect. The timing of the competition is a challenge, and clubs invest heavily in these players, but that doesn’t diminish the tournament’s importance.”
The comments made by the former England international have continued to spark mixed reactions in the Nigerian football scene, which calls for an apology to those who felt offended by his comments.
