Nigeria–Morocco: Ghanaian Critic Questions Referee Laryea’s Performance

A Ghanaian social media commentator, Bongo Ideas, has stirred fresh controversy after criticising the officiating in Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 semi-final clash against host nation Morocco.

The match, which ended Nigeria’s campaign, saw centre referee Daniel Laryea come under intense scrutiny from fans and analysts. In a Facebook post that quickly gained traction, Bongo Ideas suggested the referee’s performance appeared compromised, claiming it looked as though he had been influenced even before kickoff.

According to him, Laryea awarded what he described as soft fouls in Morocco’s favour, booked Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey unnecessarily, and failed to caution Moroccan players. He also accused the referee of disrupting the flow of the game and operating under heavy pressure.

Bongo Ideas rated Laryea’s display a “4 out of 10” and went as far as suggesting that AFCON tournaments are often tilted in favour of host nations. He added that, as a Ghanaian, the performance was disappointing and reflected poorly on his country.

The comments triggered mixed reactions online, especially among Nigerian fans. While some agreed with the claims and questioned the fairness of the officiating, others dismissed the allegations, arguing that Nigeria failed to create enough chances and should accept the result.

Several commentators urged fans to move on, insisting that blaming the referee was unnecessary, particularly after extra time and a penalty shootout decided the outcome.

The debate has continued across social media, highlighting ongoing concerns among African football fans about refereeing standards and the perceived advantage enjoyed by host nations at major tournaments.