The Instagram account of Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea has been deactivated following a wave of backlash over his performance in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.
Rising Tensions and Controversial Calls
Even before kickoff, there was significant unease regarding Laryea’s appointment due to the historic football rivalry between his home country, Ghana, and Nigeria.
These concerns intensified during the match as several of his decisions were labeled “questionable” by observers.
A flashpoint in the game occurred when Laryea issued a yellow card to Calvin Bassey, a booking that resulted in a one-match suspension for the defender.
Fan Backlash and Account SuspensionIn the wake of Nigeria’s defeat to Morocco, disgruntled supporters reportedly tracked down the official’s profiles on Instagram and Twitter.
A coordinated effort to “mass-report” the accounts appears to have been successful, as a verification by DAILY POST confirmed the Instagram page is no longer accessible.
The officiating drew sharp criticism from the Nigerian camp. Speaking in the mixed zone after the match, defender Bright Osayi-Samuel did not hold back:“The referee was appalling.
I’m not saying that’s the reason why we lost but he was making very, very wrong decisions and it’s really painful to see that we have referees like that in a game like today.”