Premier League Manager Backs Senegal in AFCON Title Controversy
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo has publicly reacted to the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title. The ruling, announced on March 17, 2026, overturned an earlier verdict after Morocco appealed incidents from the final match on January 18, 2026.
CAF's Controversial Decision and Match Details
CAF sanctioned both Senegal and Morocco following disruptions during the final of the 35th edition of the tournament, including controversies involving ball boys and match interruptions. After Morocco's appeal, the CAF Appeal Board reversed the January 29, 2026 decision, awarding Morocco a 3-0 walkover and stripping Senegal of the title.
During the match, the Senegal national team walked off the pitch in the 90+6th minute after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded a penalty to the hosts. The team returned 17 minutes later, with goalkeeper Édouard Mendy saving the spot-kick taken by Brahim Díaz in the 90+24th minute. Midfielder Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in the 94th minute of extra time, as reported by The Guardian.
Santo's Firm Stance on the Outcome
Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo has insisted that Senegal remain the rightful winners of the 2025 AFCON, despite CAF's ruling. According to Sky Sports, the West Ham United manager emphasized that referee decisions on the pitch should stand, stating that what happens during the game must remain final.
The 52-year-old described the AFCON final as chaotic and memorable within the football community. He said, "I watched the game and I recall perfectly what happened, and the result. For me, what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. 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. I don't recall seeing anything like that. It was crazy, the final, with many incidents," as per the West Ham official website.
Recognition of Players and Previous Comments
Santo highlighted the role of Al Nassr star Sadio Mane in stabilizing the atmosphere during the final. He mentioned hugging El Hadji Malick Diouf after the tournament, telling him, "for me you are the champion." The former Porto coach added, "I recall the manager made the decision, then Sadio Mane played a big role in that moment, and they won it."
This follows earlier comments from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who expressed shock over CAF's decision to award the title to Morocco, claiming those responsible would not be able to show their faces in public. Santo becomes the second Premier League coach, after Guardiola, to publicly address the issue.
