Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has dismissed the backlash that followed Nigeria’s elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, saying criticism is a normal part of football.
Nigeria crashed out of the tournament on Wednesday night after losing on penalties to hosts Morocco in a tightly contested semi-final that ended goalless after 120 minutes. While the penalty shootout decided the tie, much of the post-match reaction focused on the officiating of the encounter.
Several Nigerian fans and football commentators took to social media to accuse Laryea of favouring the host nation, pointing to a number of decisions they described as contentious. Central to the outrage was a yellow card shown to Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey, which ruled him out of the remainder of the competition.
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Supporters argued that television replays suggested Moroccan winger Brahim Diaz had pulled Bassey’s shirt before the foul was awarded against the Nigerian defender. Other moments in the match also came under scrutiny, with Nigerians questioning free-kick decisions that went Morocco’s way.
The frustration was shared by some players, as Super Eagles attackers Akor Adams and Bright Osayi-Samuel publicly criticised the referee’s performance following the defeat.
However, Laryea appeared unfazed by the criticism. Speaking on Sporty TV, the FIFA-badged official downplayed the reaction, insisting that controversy is inevitable in high-stakes matches. “No, it’s okay. It’s football,” he said when asked about the criticism.
It remains uncertain whether the Confederation of African Football will review the officiating of the semi-final or take any disciplinary steps. For now, the result remains unchanged.
Nigeria will now shift focus to the third-place playoff against Egypt scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, while Morocco prepares to face Senegal in Sunday’s final as AFCON 2025 reaches its climax.
