Former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen has strongly defended the Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the competition deserves greater respect and recognition on the global stage.
His comments come after former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned AFCON’s status as a major tournament, a remark that sparked widespread reactions across the football community. Softfootball gathered that Eguavoen believes Carragher failed to appreciate the significance of the competition to African football.
The 1994 AFCON winner described the continental showpiece as one of the finest tournaments in world football, citing the quality of matches and global audience attracted by the most recent edition in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the best football tournaments in the world,
Eguavoen said, adding that Carragher’s remarks were unfair and made without a proper understanding of the tournament’s importance.
Eguavoen also encouraged African players to continue treating AFCON as a top priority despite concerns over club commitments and scheduling.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the tournament’s timing, he stressed that those issues should never diminish its prestige or the pride that comes with representing one’s country on Africa’s biggest football stage.
