West Ham boss Nuno questions decison to award AFCON title to Morocco

West Ham United coach Nuno Espírito Santo has publicly backed Senegal following the controversial decision to strip them of their Africa Cup of Nations title, insisting the result on the pitch should stand.

Speaking in reaction to CAF’s ruling, the Portuguese manager said he still considers Senegal players as rightful champions, despite the governing body awarding the title to Morocco after an appeal.

“I watched the game (2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco) and I recall perfectly what happened,” Nuno said, referencing the dramatic scenes that unfolded during the final in Rabat.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) overturned Senegal’s 1-0 victory after ruling that the team forfeited the match when players briefly left the pitch in protest over a late penalty decision.

Morocco were subsequently awarded a 3-0 win and crowned African champions — a move that has sparked widespread debate across the football world.

For Nuno, however, the matter is simple: the outcome on the field should define the champion.

“What happens in the pitch stays in the pitch for me. For me, Malick is a champion, it’s over and all the decisions that come after that. For Malick, he’s happy and he deserves a medal.”

Final remembered for chaos

The AFCON final had already been one of the most dramatic in recent history.

After a tense and goalless 90 minutes, Senegal took the lead in extra time through Pape Gueye and appeared to have secured the title.

But deep into stoppage time, Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty following a VAR review — a decision that triggered protests from Senegal players, who briefly walked off the pitch.

“They left the pitch after a penalty was awarded against them, then returned, the penalty was saved and Senegal won the game in extra-time,” Nuno recalled.

The interruption lasted several minutes before play resumed, with Morocco’s Brahim Díaz missing the penalty — a moment that proved decisive as Senegal held on to win.

However, CAF later ruled that Senegal’s temporary walk-off breached tournament regulations, leading to the unprecedented decision to annul the result.

‘I’ve never seen anything like it’

Nuno described the entire episode as extraordinary, both in terms of the match itself and the fallout that followed.

“I don’t recall seeing anything like that. It was crazy, the final, with many incidents,” he said.

“I recall the manager made the decision, then Sadio Mane made a big role in that moment and they won it.”

His remarks echo a growing sentiment within football circles that the events, while chaotic, were part of the match’s natural flow rather than grounds for overturning the result.

Personal support for Senegal players

The former Tottenham and Wolves manager also revealed he had personally spoken to one of the Senegal players after the controversy.

“I didn’t the social media but I saw him, I gave him a hug and told him ‘for me you are the champion’.”

That message reflects a broader emotional response from players and coaches, many of whom believe Senegal’s achievement should be recognised regardless of administrative rulings.

Debate shows no sign of ending

Nuno’s comments add to the growing list of voices questioning CAF’s decision — one that has divided opinion across Africa and beyond.

With Senegal expected to pursue further legal action and figures within the game continuing to speak out, the debate over who truly deserves the 2025 AFCON title remains far from settled.

For Nuno, though, the verdict is already clear: the champions were decided on the pitch.