Nigeria vs Morocco: What Nigerians think about Ghanaian referee

As Nigeria prepares to face Morocco in the 1xBet Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final in Rabat today, Nigerians have taken to X to express strong opinions about the appointment of a Ghanaian referee, Daniel Nii Laryea, for the match.

The winner of the semi-final will advance to the AFCON final, scheduled for January 18, 2026.

The semi-final kicks off at 8 p.m. local time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with Laryea supported by assistant referees from South Africa and Lesotho, and a multinational VAR team including officials from South Africa, Tunisia, and Kenya.

Many Nigerians expressed concern and scepticism about the appointment of a Ghanaian referee, citing the historical football rivalry between the two countries. One user jokingly tweeted, “Oh finally, we have come to conclusion that Ghana Jollof is the best, so Referee please behave tonight…”

Others were more serious, questioning the neutrality of CAF’s appointment. One fan wrote: “Ghanaians don’t like Nigerians, let’s see how it ends.” Another expressed outrage, tweeting: “CAF you guys are fvcking bias and you’ve no credibility… Fvck you guys, fvck Ghanaians, fvck everyone officiating the match… there’s no way I’m fvcking watching that daylight robbery on us… where is the useless NFF to raise concern?”

Some supporters hinted at humorous “revenge” if the match didn’t go well. One user wrote: “This is bad news. Make we shaa no lose if not, Ghana no too far. Na 20,000 buses we go take come cause problems for Kumasi.”

Other fans took a lighter approach to the controversy, using humour to express anxiety about officiating. One comment read: “It’s over for Nigeria. Sending a Ghanaian referee to handle a Nigeria game is like asking a cat to guard the milk. The rivalry is too deep. Between the home crowd in Rabat and Laryea’s whistle, the Super Eagles better bring their own VAR. Wednesday is going to be a long night.”

Another fan compared the appointment to other hypothetical situations: “Having a Ghanaian referee for Nigeria is like having an Algerian referee for Morocco. But why are we so surprised? The NFF will surely look to protest this.”

Amid the scepticism, some Nigerians urged calm and faith in CAF’s choice, noting Laryea’s experience and previous officiating in major CAF and FIFA tournaments. Many stressed that supporters should focus on cheering the Super Eagles as they aim to reach their fourth AFCON final.

The Super Eagles reached the semi-final after a 2–0 win over Algeria in the quarter-finals. Tonight’s clash in Rabat is crucial, with the winner advancing to face the victor of the Senegal vs Egypt semi-final in the AFCON final on January 18, 2026.