February 24th 2025.
Jamie Carragher was recently involved in a heated debate with Rio Ferdinand, a former Manchester United player, over a controversial comment he made about the Africa Cup of Nations. Carragher, a Liverpool legend, did not hold back in his criticism of Ferdinand for wading into the discussion.
The debate was sparked when Mohamed Salah, who is having an outstanding season for Liverpool, put in yet another spectacular performance in their 2-0 victory against Manchester City. This win extended Liverpool's lead at the top of the Premier League table to 11 points, putting them in a strong position for the title.
Salah was directly involved in both of Liverpool's goals, scoring the first one and assisting the second. This means he has contributed to a total of 42 goals in the Premier League alone this season. The Sky Sports panel of pundits were quick to shower praise on the Egyptian forward after the game.
However, Carragher's comment about Salah's absence from "major international tournaments" did not sit well with his fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge. Carragher suggested that this could be a possible reason why Salah has not been recognized for individual awards.
Richards immediately called out Carragher, stating that the Africa Cup of Nations is a major tournament and should not be devalued. This led to a heated back-and-forth between the two, with Carragher arguing that Egypt is not likely to win the World Cup, to which Richards replied that AFCON is still a big deal.
The debate caused a stir among football fans on social media, with many criticizing Carragher for his remarks. Even Rio Ferdinand got involved, calling Carragher "ignorant" and posting a clip of the discussion on his Instagram page.
Ferdinand stated that the comment made by Carragher is representative of the majority of people, but he believes it is an "ignorant thought process." He pointed out that winning AFCON is a huge demand for players from their countries, and it should not be devalued.
Carragher, however, defended his stance on the matter, stating that he meant no disrespect towards AFCON. He clarified that his point was that Salah, playing for Egypt, might be at a disadvantage when it comes to winning individual awards. He also mentioned that players like Andriy Shevchenko and Robert Lewandowski, who never won the World Cup or Euros, were not considered for the Ballon d'Or.
Carragher also addressed the reaction he had when Richards interjected, stating that it was not about the tournament's merits, but rather his anticipation of the backlash that would follow. He ended his tweet by wishing Salah all the best and calling him a "little dancer."
In conclusion, the debate between Carragher and Ferdinand sparked a lot of discussion among football fans, with both sides holding strong opinions on the matter. While Carragher's remark may have been clumsy, it is clear that he meant no disrespect towards AFCON. In the end, we can all agree that Salah is having an incredible season and deserves all the recognition he is receiving.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
