Rio Ferdinand, a former defender for Manchester United, believes that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) needs to enjoy the same level of prestige as the World Cup and other significant trophy competitions.
Ferdinand said in a Monday podcast that “it should be respected more than it is” that “the lack of resources put into it” is the media’s claim that it is a Mickey Mouse tournament.
The 46-year-old’s comments come after fellow Englishman and pundit, Jamie Carragher speaking after Liverpool‘s 2-0 victory over , Manchester City on Sunday, felt that Mohamed Salah playing in AFCON was a drawback in his becoming the best player in the world.
According to , the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) shattered viewership records, reaching a total of 2.2 billion viewers worldwide
This surpassed the viewership of the Super Bowl in the United States, which averaged 123.4 million viewers that same year, a 1.8 billion gap.
The competition also saw a significant increase in digital engagement, with 2.1 billion digital interactions, 3.1 billion TikTok video views, and 12.5 million Instagram views.
Despite these impressive stats, the six-time Premier League champion claimed that ignorance is to blame for the cup competition’s lack of recognition despite the existence of players who have excelled in Europe.
“That comment is representative of the majority of the people out there, I don’t think that is right, that is ignorant. Because of the Africa Cup of Nations, that process is somewhat exhausting. If you go to Abedi Pele, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o all these players Riyad Mahrez, Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, we have to win this, it is a demand in their country to win this”
“Yes, it doesn’t get back resources-wise like the Euros etc but that doesn’t mean you have to devalue it. It is a continent with enormous power, one that contributes to European football incalculably, just like the African continent’s player population, which is a ridiculous number, he claimed.
FIFA, according to Ferdinand, has a significant role to play in changing this narrative and positioning the cup competition alongside the Euros and COPA America.
“I agree with what Jamie is saying, but I don’t agree with it because the majority of people in the world don’t,” and I believe FIFA should develop a language that translates to Euris and COPA America. That’s the point.
Jamie was trying to say something, and I believe he was correct when he said that because that is what happens, Mo Salah winning the Africa Cup of Nations would not affect people’s ability to cast ballots for the Ballon d’Or, which he was incorrectly claiming one of his points was.
Salah hasn’t yet won the African continent title, but he did so twice in 2017 and 2021.
“If Mane finished second in 2022, that has no bearing on anyone’s vote, in the captains, media and all the managers, I don’t think they would go (oh before I make an adjustment on who made the top three, where did , Mo Salah finish in the Africa Cup of Nations)”.
Source: Channels TV
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