All About the Ghanaian Referee Who Officiated Nigeria–Morocco “Poorly”

Morocco had edged Nigeria 4–2 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes, and the Atlas Lions were on their way to the AFCON final. But for many Nigerians watching, the story they carried out of that stadium was not just “we lost on penalties.” It was: “the officiating cost us the final.”

In the hours that followed, one name floated from WhatsApp to X to Instagram comments: Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea, the Ghanaian referee appointed to take charge of Nigeria vs Morocco. Fans accused him of one-sided calls and “wrong decisions,” and the anger quickly turned personal online.

Then came the social media subplot Nigerians love: the Instagram story. Reports circulated that supporters mass-reported the referee’s account, pushing it into suspension territory. But it wasn’t confirmed. 

Meet Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea: the official before the outrage

Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea is not a random whistle pulled from nowhere. He is a Ghanaian match official, a FIFA-listed referee (since 2014, per multiple published profiles), and a regular face in CAF competitions. 

His name appears on official announcements and federation updates the way serious referees’ names do quietly, routinely, without fanfare—until a big game turns controversial.

CAF’s own match-official list for Nigeria vs Morocco placed Laryea as the referee, with assistants and a full VAR team appointed for the semi-final. In other words, this was not “trial and error.” This was a formal assignment for a high-stakes match.

A career built in the trenches, not on Instagram

Laryea’s biography compiled across football databases and published profiles paints a familiar West African sporting arc: early involvement in the game, a climb through domestic competition, then continental recognition.

Public biographical listings describe him as born in 1987, Ghanaian, and active as a referee from the mid-2000s, later becoming FIFA-listed. 

Over time, he has appeared across CAF tournament circuits and, notably, has also been selected for global assignments connected to officiating and VAR.

In 2023, the Ghana Football Association announced he was selected as one of the Video Assistant Referees for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, a detail that signals confidence in his technical competence at the highest level of football administration.

The match that set Nigeria on fire

Nigeria vs Morocco ended 0–0 after extra time. Morocco won the shootout 4–2. That’s the clean, official record. But controversy lives in the messy parts: the borderline fouls, the advantage calls, the rhythm of cards, and the feeling, fair or not, that one team is being allowed to play with more freedom.

Nigeria committed 29 fouls to Morocco’s 19, yet Nigeria received two yellow cards while Morocco received none, triggering accusations of one-sided officiating. Many fans described the officiating as “compromised,” pointing to rivalry narratives and perceived host advantage.

And it wasn’t only “online noise.” Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was quoted calling the officiating “appalling” and alleging the referee “kept making very wrong decisions” while also clarifying he was not using that as the sole explanation for Nigeria’s defeat. That distinction is crucial: frustration can be real without becoming an excuse.