The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) appointment of Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea for the blockbuster AFCON 2025 semi-final between Nigeria and hosts Morocco has ignited a storm of reactions on Nigerian social media, with many fans questioning the decision and accusing CAF of bias.
The announcement came on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, ahead of Wednesday’s clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Laryea, a FIFA-listed referee since 2016, has officiated several high-profile matches, including AFCON games and World Cup qualifiers, but his selection for this sensitive encounter has sparked suspicion among Super Eagles supporters.
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with posts under hashtags like #CAFBias, #LaryeaOut, and #ProtectTheEagles, with many users expressing distrust due to historical Ghana-Nigeria football rivalry and past controversial decisions involving West African referees.
Popular reactions included:
“CAF up to something? Ghana referee for Nigeria vs Morocco? We know how this ends. Protect Osimhen and Lookman! #AFCON2025”
“Laryea? The same guy who gave soft penalties against us in qualifiers? This is rigged. CAF hates Nigeria. #BoycottCAF”
“Why not a neutral ref from Tunisia or Senegal? Ghana-Nigeria rivalry is too hot for this game. Suspicious! #SuperEagles”
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Some fans were more measured, noting Laryea’s experience and calling for the team to focus on performance rather than the referee.
The appointment comes after Nigeria’s impressive run to the semi-finals, with the Super Eagles unbeaten (W5) and leading the tournament in goals scored (12). Morocco, as hosts, are unbeaten (W4 D1) and chasing their first title since 1976.
CAF has not commented on the backlash, but the match is expected to be tightly officiated, with video assistant referee (VAR) support in place.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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