Football legend Rio Ferdinand has strongly criticized Jamie Carragher for downplaying the importance of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, recently suggested that AFCON is not a major tournament.

The debate started after Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Manchester City, where Mohamed Salah played a key role.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher claimed that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s lack of success in the World Cup could hurt his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. He also implied that AFCON is not a significant competition.

Ferdinand disagreed and called Carragher’s comments “ignorant.” On his show, Rio Ferdinand Presents, he explained that AFCON is a highly respected tournament in Africa.

He pointed out that legendary players like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Sadio Mane all consider winning AFCON a huge achievement.

He also argued that just because AFCON doesn’t receive the same financial support as the Euros doesn’t mean it should be undervalued.

Ferdinand emphasized that Africa has contributed many great players to European football, and AFCON deserves more recognition.

His comments have sparked a debate among football fans about the importance of AFCON in world football. Do you think Carragher was wrong to dismiss AFCON? Let us know in the comments!