Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand have never been the best of friends, and their latest clash over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has only added more fuel to their long-running rivalry. The former Premier League defenders, who once competed for England’s center-back position, have repeatedly taken jabs at each other in their punditry careers.
Carragher’s Controversial AFCON Comments
The latest controversy started when Carragher shared his thoughts on how AFCON impacts Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. The Liverpool legend argued that the tournament doesn’t carry the same weight as the Euros or Copa América in the eyes of voters, suggesting that players from less dominant footballing nations must rely more on their club success.
His comments didn’t sit well with Ferdinand, who labeled such views as “ignorant.” Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Manchester United great pushed back, saying:
“That comment is representative of the majority of people out there, and I think it’s an ignorant thought process. If you ask Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Riyad Mahrez, or Salah, they’ll tell you AFCON is huge. Yes, it might not get the same financial backing as the Euros, but that doesn’t mean it should be devalued. Africa contributes massively to European football, and the tournament should be respected more.”
While Ferdinand acknowledged that Carragher was technically correct in pointing out that winning AFCON wouldn’t influence Ballon d’Or voting, he argued that this lack of recognition was part of a bigger problem.
The War of Words Escalates
After Ferdinand posted a clip of his take on Instagram, Carragher fired back in the comments:
“I didn’t say that, you clown. Stop playing to the gallery like you always do.”
Ferdinand, never one to back down, responded:
“You’ve had a bad couple of weeks… Myles Lewis-Skelly & Pep [Guardiola]…”
This isn’t the first time the two have clashed publicly. The term “clown” has been thrown around in their spats before, and their rivalry shows no signs of cooling off.
Who’s Right in the AFCON Debate?
Carragher’s argument highlights a harsh reality in global football – major international tournaments outside of Europe and South America don’t receive the same recognition. However, Ferdinand’s counterpoint emphasizes the importance of respecting AFCON’s legacy and its significance to African players.
What do you think? Was Carragher simply stating a fact, or was Ferdinand right to call out the devaluation of AFCON? Let us know in the comments!
