The aftermath of Nigeria's heartbreaking Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final exit has taken a controversial turn, with a Ghanaian medical practitioner drawing the ire of Nigerian football fans. Dr. George Anagli sparked a social media firestorm by publicly defending the officiating of his countryman, referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea, who oversaw the match.
Controversial Praise for the Referee
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea for the crucial semi-final clash between Nigeria and host nation Morocco on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. The match ended 0-0 after extra time, with Morocco triumphing 4-2 in a penalty shootout at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Following the game, many Nigerian fans and pundits flooded social media to criticize the referee's decisions.
However, Dr. George Anagli offered a starkly different assessment. In a now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter), the Ghanaian doctor threw his full support behind the referee. "No one should blame the referee o. He did an amazing job. Take your L in peace. Please paaaaa," he wrote.
Nigerian Backlash and Social Media Storm
The doctor's comment quickly went viral, amassing over 17,000 views, 1,000 likes, 100 retweets, and 38 comments, most of which were critical reactions from Nigerians. His remark was seen as dismissive of the widespread Nigerian sentiment that the officiating was poor.
The online debate intensified as users dissected the referee's performance. One user, @bacellone1, argued, "Amazing job in favor of Nija. Ungrateful ppl. That hand ball was a penalty. He overlooked it." Another, @Halle_man2, took a contrary view, stating, "I don't understand the Nigerians sef. De ref helped dem a lot."
Some comments highlighted the broader context of Nigeria-Ghana rivalry. User @MufasaKwaku noted, "Don’t mind them . They just want to find a lightning rod for their discrepancies and what better way than the referee, who happens to be A Ghanaian as well."
Broader Reactions to the Semi-Final Defeat
The controversy over the referee's performance was part of a larger wave of reactions to Nigeria's exit. Prominent comedian Bovi also blasted the Super Eagles' attitude in a video posted on his Instagram page. He particularly criticized winger Samuel Chukwueze for his casual approach to a missed penalty, comparing it to "an assassin chewing gum before firing."
Other social media users offered varied perspectives on the match itself. @emma4skalonji commented, "Morocco was better than Nigeria it will be unfair if Morocco lost this match outplayed Nigeria everywhere they just wan take the Ref as an excuse he was decent few mistakes but not bad."
The incident underscores the intense passions surrounding continental football and how decisions on the pitch—and comments off it—can ignite major cross-border debates among African fans.
