By Abubakar Muhammad Turaki
The official Instagram account of Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea was reportedly taken down following Nigeria’s dramatic 4–2 penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The tightly contested match, played in Rabat, ended 0–0 after regular time and extra time, forcing the tie into penalties where Morocco emerged victorious, extending Nigeria’s painful history of shootout exits at major tournaments.
Following the Super Eagles’ elimination, Nigerian fans flooded social media platforms with anger and frustration, accusing the referee of poor and biased officiating. Many supporters allegedly mass-reported Laryea’s Instagram account, which eventually led to its deactivation.
Online commentators questioned several key decisions, particularly those related to fouls and disciplinary actions, claiming Nigeria was unfairly treated during critical moments of the match.
Fans pointed to discrepancies in foul counts and yellow cards, noting that Nigeria was penalized more frequently while Morocco appeared to escape similar punishment. This further fueled the belief among supporters that the officiating had a significant impact on the outcome.
Some analysts and fans insist the referee’s performance was inconsistent and influential, while others have urged calm, reminding the public that emotions often run high after penalty shootout heartbreaks.
Outside Nigeria, a few commentators defended the referee, warning against turning sporting disappointment into personal attacks.
Despite the controversy, the Super Eagles must now refocus as they prepare to face Egypt in the third-place playoff, hoping to close their AFCON 2025 campaign on a positive note amid the ongoing debate over officiating and fan reactions.
