Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has strongly dismissed claims that he favoured host nation Morocco during their controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Nigeria.

The high-stakes match ended 4–2 in Morocco’s favour on penalties after regulation and extra time, drawing intense scrutiny on social media. Speaking to the media upon returning to Ghana, Laryea stressed that he officiated strictly according to the laws of the game, ignoring online criticism and rivalry-driven narratives.

“For me, I just do my refereeing. I just do football,” Laryea said. “I don’t listen to what goes in and out of social media. We just apply the laws of the game.”

The semi-final represented the biggest assignment of Laryea’s career, marking his first time officiating at that stage of the AFCON tournament. He acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the need for concentration, composure, and decisiveness.

“Semi-final matches are always the toughest because teams are fighting for a place in the final. Any team that reaches that stage has already achieved something significant,” he said.

Despite criticism from some Nigerian fans and players, Laryea’s performance has earned praise, with former Ghanaian Sports Minister Edwin Lante Vanderpuye describing him as “the best” referee of the tournament. Vanderpuye also suggested that Laryea’s showing could lead to future appointments at the FIFA World Cup.