“Make a massive apology” — John Obi Mikel demands Carragher apologize over AFCON comment

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Nigerian captain Mikel John Obi has demanded a “massive apology” from Jamie Carragher following the latter’s controversial comments dismissing the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a “non-major tournament.”

Carragher’s remarks, made during a discussion about Mohamed Salah’s form and his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, suggested that the Egyptian’s failure to play in major international tournaments like the World Cup or European Championship hindered his prospects of winning the prestigious individual award.

The comments, which downplayed the significance of AFCON, sparked outrage among former African players, with Mikel leading the charge.

Mikel, who represented Nigeria in five AFCON tournaments and won the competition in 2013, took to his Obi One Podcast to voice his displeasure with Carragher’s dismissal of Africa’s flagship football tournament.

“I hope he will come out and make a massive apology because he owes people around the world an apology,” Mikel said. “His statement was absolutely wrong. It was ignorant to disrespect such a wonderful tournament.”

He went on to criticize Carragher’s credentials, pointing out that the former Liverpool defender had never won a major international tournament with England, despite a lengthy career in the Premier League.

“It’s so disrespectful what he said, and this is coming from someone who never won any major international competition with England,” Mikel added.

Carragher’s comments had come after Salah helped Liverpool secure a 2-0 win over Manchester City, continuing his stellar form for the Reds.

Salah, who has scored 25 goals and provided 16 assists in the Premier League this season, has long been a contender for the Ballon d’Or but has never placed higher than sixth in the voting.

While Mikel’s demands for an apology continue to draw attention, Carragher has yet to respond directly to the criticism. However, the debate has reignited discussions around the recognition of AFCON and African football’s contribution to the global stage.