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Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has described the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal between Morocco and Nigeria as the toughest match of the tournament, rejecting claims of biased officiating.
Laryea, who returned to Accra on Sunday and was greeted with flowers at the airport, said the high stakes of a semifinal made it particularly challenging. Morocco defeated Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in Rabat to reach the final against Senegal, while the Super Eagles later secured the bronze medal.
He told reporters that officiating a semifinal comes with immense pressure, as teams are desperate to reach the final, and the AFCON represents Africa’s biggest football stage.
Laryea noted that the Morocco-Nigeria clash was his first AFCON semifinal, having officiated in three previous editions, adding that his appointment reflected the confidence organisers had in him.
“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.”
The referee rejected accusations of favouritism toward Morocco, saying he focused solely on refereeing and did not pay attention to social media commentary.
“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.
He admitted some anxiety due to the high-profile nature of the game but stressed that his priority was upholding the rules on the pitch.
Some Nigerian fans had expressed concerns over the appointment of a Ghanaian referee because of the football rivalry between the countries. After Nigeria’s elimination, Laryea reportedly faced criticism online, with his Instagram account briefly taken down after a flood of negative comments.
