“Myopic” – Former NFF President blasts Jamie Carragher over AFCON comments 

The ex-president of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has hit back at former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, over his belittling statement about the stature of the AFCON tournament, Soccernet.ng reports.

Speaking on Monday Night Football a week ago, Carragher revealed his fears about Mo Salah not winning the Ballon d’Or due to Egypt’s absence from a major tournament.

Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge, in response, told the 2005 UEFA Champions League winner that the AFCON tournament houses Egypt, and, therefore, is a major tournament on par with the Euros and Copa America competitions, but the ex-Liverpool man scuffed in disbelief.

Jamie Carragher flippantly disregarding AFCON being a major tournament on Sky Sports tonight. pic.twitter.com/FI2CAFGa5B

— Leo Haider (@leohaider7) February 23, 2025

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Ex-Nigerian Internationals like John Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike and Jay-Jay Okocha, have torn into Carragher for making such recalcitrant statements, and Pinnick has joined in.

“I think it is a very myopic opinion, and you can see the wave of attack because the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is growing beyond the imagination of so many people, and he might be talking subjectively.”

“When George Weah, in 1995, won the Ballon d’Or, Liberia were nowhere close to the AFCON. He won the award due to his performance when he was with AC Milan, and you look at what Mohamed Salah has done this season. That is super iconic,” the 54-year-old said on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa in quotes revealed by Zambian Observer.

Pinnick, who is now an Executive Council member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), urged Carragher to keep an eye out for the upcoming AFCON 2025 tournament, admitting it'll be an even better competition than the previous edition in Ivory Coast.

“The players are playing so well, and it is even beyond the coach. It is not about tactics, and that should be the spirit to resonate in Africa, and that should be the spirit among African players that we can do it. In the last AFCON, give it to CAF because solidarity about 60 million dollars went to Cote d’Ivoire, and that was the first time, and just wait and see what will happen in Morocco this year.

“African players know how important it is to win the Africa Cup of Nations, and the medal and trophy alone is something every player will cherish,” the former Nigeria Football Federation President concluded.

Salah has been in phenomenal form, scoring 30 goals and providing 22 assists in 39 games across all competitions for Liverpool this season.

Arne Slot's side have a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, and with their current form, will be crowned Champions of the English top-flight soon.

Salah's Egypt were drawn into Group B of the AFCON 2025 tournament alongside Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The former Roma winger has the opportunity to lead his side to continental success, which would further boost his chances of becoming the second-ever African to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or Award.

Nigeria have been drawn into Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda.