Nigeria’s hopes of lifting a first AFCON title since 2013 were dashed in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, as the Super Eagles were eliminated by host nation Morocco on penalties after a tense, goalless semi-final in Rabat.
The match, officiated by Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea, ended 4-2 in favour of Morocco in the shootout, with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou emerging as the decisive figure. While the game on the pitch was cagey and tight, some key moments — including Nigeria’s inability to break through a well-organised Moroccan defence — ultimately left the West Africans ruing missed opportunities rather than outright dominance, as the side now prepares for a third-place playoff against Egypt.
However, much of the post-match conversation online shifted away from tactics and performance toward officiating, with many Nigerian fans on Twitter/X sharply criticising Laryea’s handling of the game.
One particularly controversial moment came when Laryea produced a yellow card for Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey in the first half — a booking that now rules the defender out of Nigeria’s next match — prompting fans like @colinudoh to call it “a terrible yellow card” and others to accuse the referee of poor judgment and influence on the match flow. Tweets collected by Naija News showed supporters venting their frustration directly at the official, with comments such as “But for @DanielLaryea3 … I have no good words for him” underscoring how some supporters believe decisions swung momentum away from the Super Eagles.
The backlash wasn’t limited to isolated calls: the referee’s broader appointment was itself a flashpoint even before kickoff, with many Nigerians questioning CAF’s choice to entrust such a pivotal match to a Ghanaian official given the historic rivalry between the two nations.
Some fans framed this decision as inherently biased, sparking memes, heated debate and accusatory hashtags in the build-up to kickoff, while others argued that the focus on refereeing overshadowed Nigeria’s own performance issues. One Nigerian supporter directly blamed the referee, tweeting:
“But for @DanielLaryea3 … I have no good words for him. If I talk… 😡” — expressing anger toward Laryea’s game management after the defeat.
Fans also criticized the controversial yellow card shown to Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey, with comments like:
“That's a terrible yellow card. Bassey did not touch him. That was a clear simulation.”
Some responses mixed banter with rivalry humour, such as a fan reacting to the referee news with:
“Ghanaian Referee, Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea is trending … Nigeria Jollof is better than Ghana Jollof.” — a playful attempt to defuse tension amid serious debate.
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