West Ham United left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf was nowhere to be seen in the matchday squad when Senegal kicked off their African Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 beating of Botswana.
And there is a very simple explanation as to why.
Now, speaking ahead of the visit of London neighbours Fulham on the other side of Christmas, Nuno had a festive plea for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Whatever you do, however far you help your nations go in the 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations, please return to the English capital fit and healthy.
How DAMAGING will it be for West Ham to lose both Wan-Bissaka and Diouf?
And is this a make-or-break spell for Ollie Scarles?
Wan-Bissaka came through the full 90 minutes unscathed when DR Congo, who the Croydon-born defender switched his allegiance to earlier in the year, edged out Benin 1-0.
But even for a luckless West Ham United outfit who seem to exist purely to be at the mercy of the cruel footballing gods, surely Diouf did not pick up an injury just minutes after Nuno begged him to avoid the treatment table?
West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf unavailable for Senegal’s AFCON opener
Fortunately, Diouf’s absence from Senegal’s 3-0 victory over Botswana had nothing to do with any untimely knocks or unfortunate niggles.
Diouf was unavailable purely because of a one-game suspension he picked up during the qualifying campaign. This meant that Ismael Jakobs of Galatasaray took his place.
Though West Ham’s number 12 will be back in time to go head to head with Wan-Bissaka in what will be an intriguing battle of the claret-and-blue full-backs. Senegal face DR Congo on the same day West Ham welcome Fulham to East London.
“I was watching Aaron’s game just now,” Nuno said during his press conference, clearly unaware of Diouf’s suspension. “Malick will get involved at 3pm.
“I wish them all the best. Stay healthy!”
Diouf was nicknamed ‘Marcelo’ after the Real Madrid great
Malick Diouf has enjoyed an ‘incredible’ rise over the last two years. From an academy in his native Senegal ran by former Liverpool, Stoke and Portsmouth midfielder Salif Diao to Europe’s most high-profile domestic league, via spells in Norway and the Czech Republic.
Diouf was even nicknamed ‘Marcelo’ back home, in homage to the Real Madrid icon. A left-back who played a massive role in the evolution of full-backs into playmakers and match-winners.
“Malick and I have known each other since we were kids,” Mouhamed, a childhood friend of Diouf’s, said on the Premier League’s YouTube channel.
“He was so passionate about football that sometimes he would skip classes! But that didn’t stop him being a good student.
“He could make a difference at any point in the game with a magical little move. He had that in him. The neighbourhood noticed that at a young age and called him Marcelo because he was so skilful.”
The ASSIST KING may be coming to West Ham! 👑
How do you feel about those Souffian El Karouani links?
Utrecht’s Souffian El Karouani may be Nuno’s first signing of 2026
By the time Diouf returns, meanwhile, his club might have another left-back ready and willing to battle him for a spot in Nuno’s XI.
Eredivisie ‘Assist King’ Souffian El Karouani is reportedly ‘on his way’ to West Ham.
“He has a truly amazing left foot,” former Dutch international Rene Van der Gijp tells Vandaag Inside of FC Utrecht’s £7 million-rated set-piece specialist. “Hardly any free-kicks end up with an opponent.
“I’m telling you; he’ll play effortlessly at all three top clubs [Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord].”
But what about West Ham? Only time will tell. Whatever happens, El Karouani vs Diouf makes for a very intriguing battle between two of the most creative, attack-minded left-backs around.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
