RABAT – Nigerian football fans, players, and analysts have expressed strong disappointment over what they describe as poor officiating in the Super Eagles’ 2–4 penalty shootout loss to hosts Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.
The match, which ended goalless after 120 minutes, saw Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea come under intense criticism for several controversial calls that many believe favored the Moroccan side.
Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel, speaking after the match, said: “One thing I would say is that the referee was appalling. I am not saying that is the reason we lost, but [he] was making very wrong decisions.”
Nigerian actor Pere Egbi took to social media to call for an end to African referees officiating at AFCON, urging CAF to invite officials from Europe or America for fairness.
“AFCON should never have referees from Africa officiating its games again. Bring in European or American referees who would referee a game with fairness and zero prejudice,” Egbi stated.
Journalist Sulaiman Adebayor, covering the tournament in Morocco, noted that inconsistent officiating could have psychologically affected the Nigerian team, disrupting their flow and concentration.
Veteran journalist Osasu Obayiuwana also expressed dismay, saying he had “no good words” for the referee.
While acknowledging that Nigeria did not play to their full potential and faced issues with late substitutions and penalty preparation, many observers highlighted the referee’s performance as a significant factor in the match’s outcome.
The Super Eagles will now face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday, while Morocco advances to the final against Senegal on Sunday.
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Disclaimer: This report reflects fan and player reactions. Officiating assessments are subjective, and CAF has not issued an official statement on the referee’s performance.
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