Jamie Carragher told to 'f*ck off' by former Nigeria star after 'ignorant and disrespectful' AFCON comments - as ex-Liverpool defender urged to come out with 'massive apology' after Mohamed Salah jibe

Carragher’s recent comments, made during a discussion about Mohamed Salah and the Ballon d'Or, ignited a firestorm of criticism. On Sunday, the former defender stated that Salah's inability to win a "major tournament" - in his view, the Euros, Copa America, or the World Cup - placed the Egyptian forward at a disadvantage when it came to Ballon d'Or voting. His dismissal of AFCON, an iconic tournament that has held immense significance for African nations, did not sit well with many, especially former players who have represented their countries at the continental tournament.

Mikel, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, didn’t hold back in expressing his anger through his The Obi One Podcast .

"It's so disrespectful what he said, and this is coming from someone who never won any major international competition with England," he said.

"His statement was absolutely wrong. I hope he will come out and make a massive apology because he owes people around the world an apology. [It was] ignorant to disrespect such a wonderful tournament. If you think that the Premier League would be what it is today with just the English players you're f*cking having a laugh mate."

Mikel was particularly critical of Carragher’s apparent arrogance and dismissive attitude toward African football in general.

"The smirk on his face, the arrogant f*cking smirk on his face to dismiss... That smirk on his face is absolutely what tipped me off," he said. "You have people trying to correct you and you're coming out and attacking absolutely everyone else and discrediting this wonderful tournament. The guy says so many things on TV, never won the Premier League, analyses teams and tells them you have to win the Premier League. "

The Nigerian took issue with the former defender’s broader analysis of football, especially given his lack of major honours in both club and international football.

"You never won it, you don't know what it takes to win the f*cking Premier League, you don't know what it takes to win with your national team. You can't discredit such a wonderful, wonderful tournament. People in Africa die for the Africa Cup of Nations," he said.

"I am f*cking angry, I am f*cking angry, he spent so many years playing for Liverpool, he didn't win the f*cking Premier League. He sits there week in, week out, telling and teaching people trying to tell people how to win the Premier League. You haven't won it. If you won the Euros with England I might understand that, if you won a major tournament with England I might understand that. You won f*ck all with England. F*ck all. And you try to discredit the tournament that I won, shed blood and tears for?

"Africans watch you on the weekend and you sit there, open your mouth and discredit the whole f***ing African continent, saying your African Nations tournament is s***. That is has no value because it's not the Euros or Copa America. He can f*ck off. We know in Africa what we bring to the Premier League."

While no African player has won the Ballon d'Or since George Weah in 1995, players like Sadio Mane have come close, finishing second in the 2022 edition. The debate over AFCON’s place in the footballing world continues, but Mikel’s impassioned defence of the tournament underscores its importance and the need for greater respect.