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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has called for greater respect for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying it should be held in the same regard as the World Cup, Euros, and Copa América.
Speaking on a podcast on Monday, Ferdinand criticised the lack of resources and the negative media narrative surrounding AFCON, stating: “It should be respected more than it is… The media portrays it as a Mickey Mouse tournament.”
His comments follow Jamie Carragher’s remarks after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, where he suggested that Mohamed Salah’s participation in AFCON hindered his claim as the world’s best player.
Despite AFCON 2024 breaking records with 2.2 billion viewers worldwide, surpassing the Super Bowl’s 123.4 million, Ferdinand believes the tournament is still undervalued.
He highlighted African legends like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Riyad Mahrez, and Sadio Mané, saying: “Winning AFCON is a huge demand in their countries, yet it’s still not seen as important.”
Ferdinand urged FIFA to play a role in changing perceptions, ensuring AFCON is treated with equal prestige to Copa América and the Euros.
