Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has hit back at ex-England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher over his controversial comments regarding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Carragher, now a pundit for Sky Sports, sparked outrage on Sunday while discussing Liverpool star Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
The 47-year-old claimed that AFCON is not one of football’s major tournaments, a statement that has since drawn widespread criticism.
Pinnick, an Executive Council member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), strongly condemned Carragher’s remarks.
Speaking on SuperSport’s Soccer Africa, he defended AFCON’s prestige, emphasizing its status as one of the world’s top competitions. He also assured fans that the 2025 edition in Morocco would be even bigger and better than the recently concluded tournament in Ivory Coast.
“I think it is a very myopic opinion, and you can see the wave of attack because the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is growing beyond the imagination of so many people, and he might be talking subjectively,” Pinnick stated.
The former NFF boss also referenced George Weah’s 1995 Ballon d’Or win, pointing out that Liberia had not even qualified for AFCON at the time. Still, Weah’s outstanding performances for AC Milan earned him the prestigious award.
Pinnick believes Salah’s performances this season make him a strong contender for the prestigious award.
“When George Weah in 1995 won the Ballon d’Or, Liberia was nowhere close to AFCON. He won the award due to his performance when he was with AC Milan, and you look at what Mohamed Salah has done this season. That is super iconic,” Pinnick said.
“The players are playing so well, and it is even beyond the coach. It is not about tactics, and that should be the spirit to resonate in Africa, and that should be the spirit among African players that we can do it. In the last AFCON, give it to CAF because solidarity about 60 million dollars went to Cote d’Ivoire, and that was the first time, and just wait and see what will happen in Morocco this year.”
Pinnick further stressed AFCON’s importance to African footballers, highlighting how much winning the competition means to them.
“African players know how important it is to win the Africa Cup of Nations, and the medal and trophy alone are something every player will cherish,” he added.
Meanwhile, Salah has enjoyed a stellar season, netting 25 goals and providing 16 assists in the Premier League. With 182 goals to his name, he is just two away from surpassing Sergio Aguero in the league’s all-time top five scorers.
The Egyptian forward has also shone in the Champions League, scoring seven goals to help Liverpool top their group. His 51 combined goals and assists across Europe’s top five leagues currently lead all players, further strengthening his Ballon d’Or credentials.
If Salah were to win the award, it would mark a historic achievement for African football, solidifying his legacy as one of the continent’s greatest-ever players.