AFCON 2025: Ghanaian Referee Laryea Plays Down Criticism After Nigeria’s Penalty Defeat To Morocco

Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has responded calmly to the wave of criticism that followed Nigeria’s painful exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting that such reactions are part of football.

Nigeria were knocked out of the tournament on Wednesday night after losing on penalties to hosts Morocco in a tense semi-final that ended goalless after 120 minutes. While the shoot-out settled the tie, the aftermath was dominated by heated debate over the officiating of the Ghanaian referee.

On social media, many Nigerian fans and commentators accused the referee of favouring Morocco, with several decisions during the match drawing sharp criticism. One incident that sparked widespread outrage was the yellow card shown to Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey, a booking that ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.

Supporters pointed to replays which appeared to show Moroccan winger Brahim Diaz pulling Bassey’s shirt before the foul was awarded against the Nigerian. There were also complaints about several free kicks that Nigerians felt should have gone their way but the Ghanaian referee awarded them to Morocco.

The discontent was echoed by players, with Super Eagles duo Akor Adams and Bright Osayi-Samuel publicly criticising the referee’s performance after the match.

Despite the backlash, the Ghanaian referee appeared untroubled. Speaking on Sporty TV, the FIFA-licensed official was asked about the criticism directed at him. “No, it’s okay. It’s football,” he said.

Whether CAF will review the officiating of the semi-final or take any further action remains unclear. What is certain is that the result stands.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to the third-place play-off against Egypt at 5 p.m. on Saturday, while Morocco prepares for Sunday’s final showdown with Senegal as AFCON 2025 draws to a close.