Jamie Carragher recently highlighted a major challenge facing African players. He suggested that Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances suffer because he plays in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) rather than the Euros.
The former Liverpool defender, now a pundit for Sky Sports, makes a valid point in some respects. However, he has overlooked the deeper issues at play.
The Ballon d’Or Bias
Carragher’s argument is simple. European tournaments like the Euros have greater global prestige. This gives players from top European nations an edge in the Ballon d’Or race.
He is not wrong. Winning an international tournament boosts a player’s chances of winning the award. The problem is that AFCON teams generally do not rank as highly as their European counterparts.
This is where Carragher’s analysis falls short. While he rightly points out a disadvantage for Salah, he fails to explore why AFCON is seen as weaker than the Euros. It’s worth noting that Salah could still be among the key players vying for African glory with Egypt (7.00) expected to be one of the main teams to watch in Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026 as per the online sports betting odds.
Africa’s Talent Drain
One key reason for AFCON’s lower global status is that much of Africa’s soccer talent benefits European clubs. Young African players are often scouted early and developed in European academies. This takes away from the development of the domestic game in Africa.
Many of Africa’s best players leave the continent before they have the chance to improve their home leagues. This weakens African clubs and national teams. As a result, AFCON teams struggle to compete with the best European nations.
European leagues gain from this talent drain. Clubs sign top African players at a young age and invest in their development. If these resources were channelled into African soccer, the continent’s international teams would be stronger.
Financial Disparities
The financial power of European soccer is another major factor. European federations and clubs have massive budgets. They can afford state-of-the-art training facilities and top coaching staff.
In contrast, many African federations struggle financially. Corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of investment have hindered the sport’s development across the continent. With the same resources as their European counterparts, African nations would likely be far more competitive. Players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. have African heritage, while legends such as Senegalese duo Patrick Vieira and Patrice Evra (both of whom represented France) were born in Africa but had their international careers elsewhere.
AFCON would be stronger if Africa’s soccer infrastructure improved. Instead, European clubs benefit from Africa’s talent, and AFCON is left to compete with limited resources.
Perception vs. Reality
The perception of AFCON as a weaker tournament is also shaped by media coverage. European competitions receive far more global attention. This increases their perceived importance in award considerations like the Ballon d’Or.
AFCON, however, is an intense and competitive tournament. Many top African stars play in it. However, because it lacks the same media hype as the Euros, it does not carry the same weight.
Carragher’s analysis focuses on results rather than the underlying causes. If African teams had the same resources and infrastructure as their European counterparts, they would be more competitive. The Ballon d’Or discussion would be very different.
Conclusion: Addressing the Imbalance
The solution lies in investing more in African soccer. More funding for domestic leagues, better youth academies, and stronger federations would help. If more African players developed their skills at home, national teams would improve.
The current system benefits European clubs at Africa’s expense. This is why Salah, despite his talent, faces an uphill battle in the Ballon d’Or race. It is not just about AFCON vs. the Euros—it is about the broader imbalance in global soccer.
Carragher raises a valid point. However, if he wants to understand why AFCON teams do not rank as highly as European teams, he needs to look at the bigger picture. Africa’s talent has been strengthening European soccer, not African soccer.
