The official Instagram account of Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea has been deactivated following widespread backlash and online outrage from football fans after he officiated Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 quarterfinal clash against Morocco on January 14, 2026.
The highly anticipated Nigeria vs Morocco match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended in controversy after the Super Eagles were eliminated 4–2 on penalties, following a goalless draw after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Nigerian internationals Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both missed their spot-kicks, which were saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
However, post-match discussions quickly shifted away from the result and toward Daniel Laryea’s officiating, with many Nigerian fans accusing the referee of biased refereeing and poor decision-making during the AFCON encounter.
Statistics from the match further fueled the controversy. Nigeria committed 29 fouls compared to Morocco’s 19, yet the Super Eagles received two yellow cards, while Morocco were not booked once throughout the game. This disparity sparked accusations of one-sided officiating, refereeing bias, and unfair treatment against Nigeria at AFCON 2025.
Following the match, Nigerian football fans flooded social media, particularly Instagram, to express their frustration. Laryea’s Instagram page reportedly became inundated with abusive comments, criticism, and mass reports, with many fans blaming his officiating for Nigeria’s elimination from the tournament.
As tensions escalated, the referee’s verified Instagram account, “daniel.n.laryea,” was deactivated and is no longer accessible via Instagram search. The move is believed to be a response to the overwhelming online backlash and an attempt to curb further harassment.
The incident has intensified scrutiny on AFCON 2025 refereeing standards, placing Daniel Laryea at the center of debate rather than the performances of either Nigeria or Morocco. As pressure mounts, the controversy continues to dominate discussions surrounding Nigeria’s AFCON exit, referee accountability, and officiating consistency at Africa’s premier football tournament.