Nuno Espírito Santo has given left-back Malick Diouf a huge boost following what has been a horrible week for the West Ham defender.
Diouf, of course, won the Africa Cup of Nations while representing Senegal at the end of January. However, the triumph was sensationally overturned yesterday, with Senegal stripped of the title following a dispute with defeated finalists Morocco.
The Senegalese side had walked off the pitch during the final after a disagreement over a penalty decision, before eventually returning to complete the match. Following an investigation into the incident, officials ruled that Senegal had effectively forfeited the game, awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory.
As a result, Diouf is no longer officially an African champion — a bitter blow, made even tougher by the timing, with the player heading straight back on international duty with Senegal.
Nuno Offers Strong Support to Diouf
Speaking about the situation, Nuno made it clear he still views his player as a winner.
“I watched the game and I recall perfectly what happened. What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch for me. For me, Malick is a champion and he deserves a medal.
“I don’t recall seeing anything like that.
“It was crazy, the final. The manager called them, Sadio Mané played a big role in them coming back and they won it.
“I gave him a hug and told him, ‘for me you are the champion’.”
It’s a classy show of support from the West Ham boss — and one that will hopefully help team spirit, lifting Diouf after an incredibly difficult few days.
If you watch the match back in full…You will see the ref had a terrible game..
Diouf was a winner 🏆… End of.