GHANAIAN REFEREE LARYEA DENIES BIAS IN MOROCCO–NIGERIA AFCON SEMIFINAL
Read Time:1 Minute, 58 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has dismissed allegations of biased officiating in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal clash between hosts Morocco and Nigeria, describing the encounter as the most challenging match of the tournament due to its high stakes.
Laryea made the remarks in a viral video showing him being welcomed with flowers on arrival at the Accra airport, where he spoke to reporters about the intense pressure associated with officiating a semifinal match.
Morocco defeated Nigeria 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw over 120 minutes in the semifinal played in Rabat, securing a place in the final against Senegal. The defeat ended the Super Eagles’ bid for a fourth AFCON title, although Nigeria later went on to claim the bronze medal in the third-place match.
“Normally in tournaments, semifinals are the toughest games because everybody wants to get to the final. Whatever work teams have put in up to that point, this is the stage where it matters most,” Laryea said.
He described AFCON as Africa’s biggest football stage, ranking it among the top global tournaments. “We have the World Cup, the Euros, and we have AFCON. This is Africa’s own, and being selected to officiate at that level is a huge opportunity for any referee,” he added.
Laryea noted that the Morocco-Nigeria encounter was his first AFCON semifinal, despite having officiated at three editions of the tournament. He said his appointment reflected the confidence placed in him by the organisers, while admitting to some anxiety due to the magnitude of the match.
The semifinal generated controversy, particularly among Nigerian fans, who questioned several officiating decisions, including the yellow card shown to defender Calvin Bassey, which ruled him out of Nigeria’s next game.
Responding to accusations of favouritism toward Morocco, Laryea rejected the claims, insisting that he remained focused on his responsibilities throughout the match. “For me, I just do my refereeing. I don’t listen to what goes on in or out of social media,” he said.
Concerns had been raised by some Nigerian supporters even before kickoff over the appointment of a Ghanaian referee, given the long-standing football rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria. Following Nigeria’s elimination, criticism intensified online, with reports that Laryea’s Instagram account was taken down after being flooded with negative comments.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0