A Nigerian football fan has ignited a fiery online debate by raising serious concerns over the appointment of the match official for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Atlas Lions of Morocco.
Fan Accuses CAF of Favoritism in Referee Selection
The controversy erupted after a TikTok user, identified as officialwandz, publicly criticized the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The fan alleged that CAF was showing undue support to host nation Morocco by assigning the Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea to officiate the high-stakes match. The user pointed out that Laryea had previously served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during Morocco's tense quarter-final victory over Cameroon.
The semi-final is scheduled for Wednesday night, January 14, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The fan's comments tapped into existing tensions surrounding the tournament, with some observers previously whispering about potential favoritism towards the host country.
Historical Rivalry Fuels Suspicion
Expressing his disbelief on social media, the fan questioned the logic behind selecting a referee from Ghana for a match involving Nigeria. "Out of all 54 countries in Africa, all the options of referees that these guys could choose... the referee that they chose is from Ghana," he stated.
He further emphasized that the deep-seated historical and football rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana made the appointment particularly problematic. "With the history between Ghana and Nigeria, they know better than to have a Ghanaian referee officiating this match," he argued, framing the decision as suspicious and highly unusual for such a critical fixture.
Official Match Appointments and Team News
CAF has confirmed that Daniel Nii Laryea will be the center referee for the encounter. He will be assisted by an officiating team comprising:
- Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela (South Africa)
- Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho)
- Arsenio Chadreque Maringule (Mozambique)
In related team news, CAF has officially notified the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that captain Wilfred Ndidi will miss the semi-final due to suspension. Ndidi picked up a yellow card in the quarter-final win against Algeria, which was his second booking of the tournament, following one in the Round of 16 against Mozambique.
As the football world awaits this epic clash, the debate over the referee appointment adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already fiercely anticipated match between two African giants.
