The Instagram account of Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has gone offline following a fierce backlash from Nigerian fans after the Super Eagles’ dramatic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final loss to Morocco.
Laryea was at the centre of attention after officiating the high-stakes clash, which ended 0-0 after extra time before Morocco edged Nigeria 4-2 on penalties to reach the final. While the match itself was tense, the fallout afterwards has been even more heated.
Long before kick-off, some Nigerian supporters had expressed unease about Laryea’s appointment, citing the historic rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana.
Those worries quickly resurfaced during the game as several decisions went against the Super Eagles.
One moment that particularly angered Nigerian fans was the yellow card shown to defender Calvin Bassey, a booking that led to a one-match suspension. Many felt the caution was harsh and unnecessary, especially given the importance of the fixture.
After the final whistle, frustrated supporters reportedly traced the referee’s social media accounts and began mass-reporting them. As at the last check, Laryea’s Instagram page was no longer accessible.
Nigeria defender Bright Osayi-Samuel voiced his disappointment while speaking to journalists in the mixed zone.
“The referee was appalling,” Osayi-Samuel said.
“I’m not saying that’s the reason why we lost but he was making very, very wrong decisions and it’s really painful to see that we have referees like that in a game like today.”
The frustration within the Super Eagles camp was also evident from striker Akor Adams, who cut a visibly annoyed figure as he left the pitch at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
As reporters attempted to speak with him, Adams offered a brief but telling response.
“Make una go interview the referee,” he said while walking past.
Since the defeat, Nigerian fans have continued to debate the officiating online, with many alleging that the referee favoured the host nation. While no official complaint has been announced, the controversy has refused to die down.
