A prominent football analyst recently addressed concerns raised about his comments on the Africa Cup of Nations, which some found to be dismissive. The former professional footballer faced backlash for implying that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim due to not participating in what he referred to as a “major tournament,” in relation to AFCON.
During a recent broadcast following a Champions League match, the analyst admitted that his choice of words was poorly expressed. He clarified that his remarks were based on historical Ballon d’Or voting trends rather than a personal opinion on the importance of AFCON.
He acknowledged the error in describing AFCON as a non-major tournament, attributing it to his attempt to highlight why tournaments like AFCON, the Asia Games, and Gold Cup might not carry as much weight with Ballon d’Or voters compared to events like the UEFA European Championship.
He pointed out that historically, Ballon d’Or voting has tended to favor competitions like the UEFA European Championship, possibly due to the award’s origins as the European Footballer of the Year accolade.
While recognizing the criticism he faced, the analyst stressed that his intention was never to be disrespectful or ignorant and that he solely wanted to discuss Salah’s Ballon d’Or prospects without causing offense.