Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has refuted allegations of unfair officiating in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal between hosts Morocco and Nigeria.
Laryea, who talked in a viral video of himself receiving flowers after landing at Ghana’s Accra airport, called the match the tournament’s most difficult due to the huge stakes involved.
Morocco overcame Nigeria 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw for 120 minutes in the semifinals in Rabat, advancing to the championship against Senegal.
The setback terminated the Super Eagles’ fourth AFCON title bid, but they went on to win bronze in the third-place match.
Speaking to media at Accra airport in the video circulating on Sunday, Laryea said officiating a semifinal comes with enormous pressure, as teams are desperate to reach the final.
“Normally in tournaments, semi-finals are the toughest games because now people want to go for finals.
“Whatever work they put into coming to that time, this is their stage when going to the final,” he said.
He added, “AFCON is the biggest stage in Africa, and it is the second-best or second-ranked tournament in the world. We have the World Cup, the Euros, and we have the AFCON.
“This is what we have in Africa. So, as a referee, if you are given that stage, it’s a big, big opportunity for you.”
Laryea observed that the Morocco-Nigeria match was his first AFCON semifinal after officiating at three previous tournaments and that his assignment indicated the organizers’ faith in him.
“That was my first time doing a semi-final in AFCON. I’ve been to three AFCONs; this is the first time I’m doing a semi-final. So, when coaches appoint you to do that game, they know the qualities and what you can do.
“But, of course, you have a bit of anxiety because of the level,” he said.
The encounter sparked outrage, particularly among Nigerian fans, who questioned some decisions, including the yellow card given to defender Calvin Bassey, which put him out of the following game.
In response to accusations of favoritism for Morocco, Laryea denied the allegations, stating that he kept focused on his job during the match.
“For me, I just do my refereeing. I just play football. I don’t listen to what goes on in or out of social media,” he said.
Given Ghana and Nigeria’s long-standing football rivalry, some Nigerian supporters expressed concern about the nomination of a Ghanaian referee prior to kickoff.
Following Nigeria’s elimination, backlash grew on social media, with some claiming that Laryea’s Instagram account was deactivated due to a flood of harsh comments.
