Former Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi has slammed Jamie Carragher for disparaging remarks about the African Cup of Nations. The exchange began when the former Liverpool defender labeled AFCON as not being a major tournament.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel expressed anger at what he viewed as ignorance and disrespect. He said:
You can’t sit there and talk like that. We talk about inclusion in the society, but how about inclusion in the world? We’re trying to change the perception of people, but it doesn’t help when someone like you who has a massive following, sits there in one of the biggest platforms in the world, and make comments like this.
Mikel highlighted his own experience winning the 2013 title and criticized Carragher’s lack of international success. He added:
I don’t care what he says, I’ve played in it, I’ve won it. It’s not his f**king place to discredit the African Cup of Nations. I am angry. He spent so many years playing for Liverpool and didn’t win the Premier League, and he sits there week in week out, trying to tell people how to win the league.
The former Chelsea star emphasized the tournament’s importance to millions of Africans. He noted:
Africans tune in to watch. They don’t have money to eat, but they watch the Premier League. They watch you on the weekend, and you sit there to discredit the whole African continent… he can f**k off.
Mikel argued that AFCON inspires the next generation of talent moving to Europe, citing legends like George Weah as proof of its value.
