Mikel Slams Carragher Over "Ignorant, Disrespectful" Africa Cup of Nations Remarks

John Obi Mikel Blasts Jamie Carragher Over AFCON Comments

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel launched a furious rant against Jamie Carragher after the Liverpool legend dismissed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as not a “major tournament.” Carragher’s remarks, made during a debate about Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances, sparked backlash from several football figures, including Mikel, who told the pundit to “f*** off” in a fiery podcast episode.

Mikel criticized Carragher’s “disrespectful” remarks on his podcast.

Carragher’s Controversial Take
Carragher argued that Salah’s lack of success in tournaments like the World Cup or Euros hinders his Ballon d’Or credentials, stating AFCON doesn’t hold the same prestige. “Egypt aren’t favored to win the World Cup, and AFCON isn’t a major tournament,” he said. His comments drew immediate criticism, with Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards defending AFCON’s significance live on air.

Mikel’s Explosive Response
On The Obi One Podcast, Mikel, a 2013 AFCON winner, slammed Carragher’s “ignorant” stance: “He disrespected a tournament people in Africa die for. That arrogant smirk on his face… he can f*** off!” He highlighted Carragher’s lack of major trophies with England or Liverpool: “He never won the Premier League but lectures others. How dare he dismiss AFCON?”

![Jamie Carragher during a punditry segment