Odion Ighalo believes Al Wehda’s narrow 1-0 victory over Al Fateh feels like “six points” as the Saudi Pro League side took a significant step towards top-flight safety, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian striker, who played 68 minutes in Saturday’s tense encounter in Jeddah, praised his side’s grit and resilience as they battled to secure a much-needed win in the relegation dogfight.
Al Wehda, who had started the weekend second from bottom, were handed the perfect platform when Abdulaziz Al Noor finished off a quick counter-attack just eight minutes into the game.
That early breakthrough proved decisive as Al Wehda defended doggedly to hold off a wasteful Al Fateh side and seal all three points.
The win lifted the Mecca-based club out of the drop zone and into 14th place, two points clear of 16th-placed Al Orobah, who still have to face champions Al Hilal in Riyadh on Monday.
With just three rounds remaining in the 2024-25 campaign, the margin for error is shrinking – but Ighalo knows how pivotal this win could prove to be.
“Every game is a final” – Nigeria's Odion Ighalo rallies Al Wehda after Al Fateh win as relegation drama unfolds
“I’m very happy,” said the former Manchester United striker as per SPL.
“The most important thing is we won the game — that’s what’s very important. I’m happy we won the game because this is very important points for us.
“This is like six points for us. Because we know if we win this game, we know we have a chance stay in the league. I’m very happy and thank God we won the game.”
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The relegation battle remains tight, with just a few points separating multiple clubs.
Al Wehda are now level on 32 points with 10th-placed Al Khaleej, but any sense of relief is tempered by the form of fellow strugglers.
• Al Kholood's first win – and first points at all in 6 games – has them move 4 points away from the relegation zone
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) May 10, 2025
• Al Wehda's win moves them out of the relegation zone but the escape is not yet complete
This is going down to the wire pic.twitter.com/pKJwlOptUi
Al Kholood, for example, earned their first points in seven matches with a crucial 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq on Saturday, climbing to 11th — just two points above Ighalo’s side.
Their final fixtures include daunting meetings with Al Qadsiah and Al Hilal before closing against Al Ettifaq.
“Every game for us is like final,” Ighalo added. “Every game is very tough, so we go to the next game to fight and try to get the points.”
For Ighalo, who has only five goals and two assists in 29 league games this season, the campaign has been personally challenging.
Should those numbers remain unchanged, it would be his least productive season in Saudi Arabia since arriving in 2021 following a loan spell at Manchester United.
But with Al Wehda fighting for survival, the Nigerian veteran remains focused on the team cause — and Saturday’s triumph might just be the lifeline they needed.
