Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has admitted to feeling nervous before officiating the high-profile 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between hosts Morocco and Nigeria, but firmly dismissed claims that his decisions favoured the tournament hosts.
Laryea spoke to journalists in Accra following his return from the competition, addressing the intense scrutiny that followed the tightly contested encounter played in front of a packed Moroccan crowd.
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The semi-final ended goalless after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, before Morocco edged Nigeria 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out to book a place in the final. The outcome sparked debate among fans, with some questioning the officiating in such a decisive fixture.
Responding to the criticism, Laryea acknowledged the pressure that comes with handling a match of that magnitude but insisted his performance was fair and professional.
“I’ve been to three AFCON tournaments, but this is the first time I’ve been in a semi-final,” he said, describing the appointment as a defining moment in his refereeing career. “When coaches choose you for that game, they know your skills and what you can do.”
The experienced official admitted that nerves were inevitable given the stakes involved. “Of course, you feel a little anxious because of the level of the match,” Laryea added, stressing that anxiety did not affect his judgment on the field.
Laryea’s comments come amid ongoing conversations about officiating standards at major African tournaments, with referees often under intense pressure in matches involving host nations. Despite the controversy, the Ghanaian official maintained that he handled the fixture to the best of his ability, guided by experience and adherence to the laws of the game.
The semi-final remains one of the most closely contested matches of AFCON 2025, with Laryea’s performance now firmly part of the tournament’s narrative
