Television viewers across the UK faced a frustrating scheduling conflict on Sunday night as the latest episode of Love Island: All Stars went head-to-head with the nail-biting final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Viewers Torn Between Villa Drama and Pitch Drama
As three new bombshells – Samie Elishi, Konnor Ewudzi, and AJ Bunker – made their entrance into the iconic villa, the crucial football match between Senegal and host nation Morocco in Rabat was reaching its tense climax. The overlap left fans scrambling and venting their frustration on social media platform X.
One exasperated viewer posted: 'Senegal I need you to score a goal ASAP. We can't go into a prolongation. Love Island starts in 20mins.' Another admitted, 'I'm going to have to cut this match short to watch Love Island,' while a third confessed, 'Damn I should be watching love island, but AFCON has me HOOKED.'
AFCON Final Erupts in Controversy
The sporting drama was not confined to the scoreline. The match descended into chaos in the final minutes when a late penalty was awarded to Morocco after Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz went down in the box. The decision, following a lengthy consultation between referee Jean-Jacques Ndala and the VAR officials, sparked furious protests.
In an extraordinary move, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw directed his players off the pitch and back to the bench in apparent protest. Former Liverpool icon Sadio Mane was seen appealing to teammates as they initially headed for the tunnel, with some appearing hesitant to leave. Mane eventually sprinted towards the dressing room, capping a dramatic and controversial end to the tournament.
Familiar Faces Return to the Love Island Villa
Back in the world of reality TV, the new arrivals brought their own histories. Samie Elishi, a finalist in the 2023 series and a brief participant in the 2025 All Stars, is now on her third stint. After her third-place finish with Tom Clare in 2023 and their subsequent split, she later dated presenter Sam Thompson. She revealed her reason for returning, stating she felt she didn't 'get a fair shot' during her last All Stars appearance.
She is joined by AJ Bunker, who rose to fame on the show's seventh series in 2021. Since her original stint, AJ has turned to boxing, beginning her professional career in 2022. She aims to be less reserved this time, saying, 'I'd like to show people that I'm not a doormat... Since I started boxing I've become more resilient.'
The third bombshell, Konnor Ewudzi from Season 11, is hoping for better luck in love. The 30-year-old explained his return: 'It's another opportunity to find somebody; I didn't find a girl the first time round... I'm wondering, "When is it my turn?"'
The clash of major television events highlights the perennial battle for audience attention, leaving fans to make difficult choices between live sporting spectacle and curated romantic drama.
