Nigerian Fans Slam Referee Daniel Laryea After AFCON Semi-Final Defeat to Morocco
Nigerian football fans have criticised Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea over his performance during the Super Eagles’ semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Many fans described the officiating as unfair and questioned several decisions made during Wednesday night’s match in Rabat. Some supporters claimed the referee was biased, pointing to Morocco’s status as tournament hosts and the long-standing rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana.
Nigeria lost the match 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time. Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both missed their spot-kicks as Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the saves.
Fans were particularly angry about the foul count and disciplinary decisions. Nigeria were judged to have committed 29 fouls compared to Morocco’s 19. Despite this, the Super Eagles received two yellow cards, while Morocco finished the match without any booking.
Several Nigerians took to social media to express their frustration, with many questioning how Morocco escaped punishment despite repeated fouls. Others suggested that the referee’s nationality played a role in his decisions.
Some media figures also criticised the standard of officiating, describing it as poor and one-sided. The performance of the referee became one of the main talking points after the match, overshadowing the football itself.
There were also reports that angry fans mass-reported the referee’s social media account, which allegedly led to its suspension. However, this claim could not be confirmed at the time of reporting.
Nigeria’s exit from the tournament has continued to spark debate among fans, with the referee’s decisions remaining a major source of anger and disappointment.
