'I wasn't biased against Nigeria' — Referee Daniel Laryea
Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has dismissed claims of biased officiating during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash between Nigeria and hosts Morocco, insisting he strictly applied the Laws of the Game.
Laryea came under criticism from sections of Nigerian football fans following their semi-final defeat last Wednesday, with accusations circulating on social media that his decisions favoured the host nation. However, the experienced referee rejected those claims, stressing that he remained professional throughout the encounter.
Speaking upon his arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, Laryea said he paid no attention to online banter or rivalry narratives surrounding the fixture.
“For me, I just do my refereeing. I just do football,” he said. “I don’t listen to what goes in and out of social media or whatever is happening there. We just apply the Laws of the Game.”
The Ghanaian official described the match as the biggest assignment of his refereeing career, revealing it was his first time officiating a semi-final at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“As a referee, when you are given such a stage, it is a big opportunity,” he noted. “When I was appointed for the game, I felt normal, but there was a bit of anxiety because it was my first AFCON semi-final.”
Laryea further acknowledged the difficulty of officiating matches at such an advanced stage of major tournaments, explaining that the stakes are significantly higher.
“Semi-final matches are always the toughest because teams are fighting for a place in the final,” he added. “Any team that reaches that stage has already achieved something significant.”
Despite the criticism, Laryea’s comments underline his commitment to fairness and professionalism as he continues to build an impressive profile on the continental refereeing stage.
