Ghanaian Referee Daniel Laryea Responds to Criticism After AFCON Semi-Final

Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has reacted to the criticism directed at him by Nigerian players and fans following his officiating role in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final loss to Morocco on Wednesday night in Rabat.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were eliminated from the tournament after a 4–2 penalty shootout defeat to the host nation. The match ended goalless after normal time and extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, before Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved spot-kicks from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, sealing Morocco’s progression.

Following the encounter, Laryea’s performance became a major talking point, with Nigerian supporters and members of the team questioning several decisions made during the contest. The reaction was swift and intense, particularly across digital platforms.

The Ghanaian official later addressed the backlash during an unexpected meeting with Sporty TV analyst Klinton Cod in Rabat. During their brief exchange, Cod openly acknowledged the frustration coming from Nigeria.

According to Cod, he told the referee, “The game was crazy, and you know my fellow Nigerians are not happy with you.”

Laryea responded calmly to the remark, downplaying the criticism by saying, “No, it’s okay. It’s football.”

Among the Nigerian players who publicly expressed dissatisfaction was Super Eagles full-back Bright Osayi-Samuel. While he clarified that the referee was not the sole reason for Nigeria’s exit, he described the officiating as poor and emotionally difficult to accept given the magnitude of the fixture.

Osayi-Samuel explained that the defeat was painful despite what he believed was a solid overall performance from the team. He also stated that several refereeing decisions disrupted the rhythm of the game.

He said, “One thing I would say is that the referee was appalling, not saying that that’s the reason why we lost, but he was making very wrong decisions, and it’s really painful to see referees like that in a big game like today.”

The situation escalated on social media, where supporters highlighted disciplinary statistics from the match. Nigeria were penalised for 29 fouls, while Morocco committed 19, yet the Super Eagles received two yellow cards, and the hosts were not booked at all throughout the encounter.

This disparity intensified discussions about consistency in officiating, with commentators and media figures questioning the neutrality and overall refereeing standards at the tournament. Reports also emerged that some Nigerian fans mass-reported Laryea’s Instagram account, which allegedly resulted in its temporary suspension.

Additionally, some supporters criticised the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for appointing a Ghanaian referee for a match involving Nigeria, referencing the long-standing football rivalry between both West African nations.

Nigeria’s elimination ended their hopes of securing a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title. However, the Super Eagles later claimed the bronze medal after defeating Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday.