‘Senegal should have stayed in the game’ - Ighalo reacts to Senegal coach's decision telling his players to leave the pitch

Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations trophy, with the decisive moment coming early in extra time when Villarreal's Pape Gueye scored a spectacular goal.

The match-winning goal for Senegal came in injury time, shortly after a dramatic missed opportunity for Morocco. 

With the score level in the final moments of normal time, Morocco was awarded a penalty that would have secured them the trophy. However, the Real Madrid midfielder was unable to convert the spot-kick.

Ex-Nigerian striker Ighalo condemned the reaction of Senegal's head coach, Pape Thiaw, who reportedly instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest after the late penalty was awarded to Morocco.

"It is unfair to Senegal, and I believe it is unfair to them, but Senegal should have stayed in the game and not gone out," he said.

The final moments of the game were marred by significant controversy, stemming from two contentious refereeing decisions.

In the 92nd minute of injury time, Senegal appeared to have scored a winning goal, but the referee disallowed it for a foul that was not reviewed by the VAR, sparking immediate drama.

The drama intensified shortly after, in the 95th minute, at the opposite end of the pitch, Morocco was awarded a penalty. 

The decision followed a claim that Senegalese player Diouf had fouled Brahim Diaz in the box. The referee was immediately advised by the VAR official to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, leading to the decision to award the penalty.

Following the awarded penalty, Senegalese players were seen leaving the pitch as instructed by their head coach.