Football enthusiasts across Nigeria have voiced significant outrage toward Ghanaian official Daniel Laryea, accusing him of a prejudiced performance during the Super Eagles’ heartbreaking semi-final loss to Morocco on Wednesday.
The match concluded in a 0-0 stalemate after 120 minutes of play at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, ultimately ending in a 4-2 penalty shootout victory for the host nation. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerged as the hero of the night, parrying spot-kicks from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi to shatter Nigerian hopes of a consecutive final appearance.
The source of fan frustration stems from a perceived disparity in the referee’s disciplinary decisions throughout the high-intensity encounter. Official match statistics reveal that while Nigeria committed 29 fouls to Morocco’s 19, the Super Eagles received two yellow cards—including a booking for Calvin Bassey—while the Moroccan players finished the game without a single caution. This statistical gap fueled allegations of “home advantage” and one-sided officiating, particularly given the historic footballing rivalry between Nigeria and the referee’s home country, Ghana.
“Obviously, he’s been biased. Looking at it, we all expect this home advantage. But it seems he’s been extra biased and has made so many wrong calls. Don’t forget, he’s a Ghanaian too, so we expected this based on our rivalry,” stated fan Olakunle Okunbanjo at a viewing center in Lagos.
Observers at local viewing hubs and online platforms highlighted several controversial moments, including a disputed corner kick decision during an incident involving Victor Osimhen in extra time. Bernard Daniel, another distraught supporter, noted that even television commentators appeared perplexed by Laryea’s refusal to award certain infringements against the Moroccan defense.
“He made so many poor decisions against us, maybe because Morocco are the host nation. Too many poor decisions against us. Even during the extra time, the commentators have been confused about the call he made, especially the corner kick he decided was a goal kick during the Victor Osimhen incident,” Daniel remarked.
Digital platforms like X became a focal point for the venting of national frustration, with several users labeling Laryea the “worst referee” of the AFCON 2025 tournament. Supporters specifically pointed to unpunished fouls against Ademola Lookman and other Nigerian attackers as evidence of a systemic failure in the officiating team’s neutrality. While some fans admitted Morocco played a strong game, the prevailing narrative remains centered on the officiating errors that many believe disadvantaged the three-time African champions during critical phases of the match.
“Though the Moroccans were the better side, but you see that Ghanaian referee, that man was very useless with most of his calls,” one fan wrote online, summarizing the bittersweet sentiment of the evening.
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