A Ghanaian football fan has captured widespread attention online after delivering a remarkably frank assessment of Nigeria's painful exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Super Eagles lost to host nation Morocco in a tense semi-final clash decided by a penalty shootout on January 15, 2026.
Ghanaian Pundit Points Finger at Fellow Countryman Referee
In a video that quickly spread across social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, the man, identified as wearing a Ghana national team jersey, set aside the historic sporting rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria to offer his perspective. His primary target was the match official, fellow Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea.
The fan argued that the officiating was subpar and displayed bias towards Morocco. He cited specific incidents, notably the yellow card shown to Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey in the first half. According to his analysis, the decision was excessively harsh.
"The officiating was bad. Daniel Nii Laryea, the Ghanaian centre-line referee, was just wrong on the day on so many occasions," the fan stated in the clip.
He elaborated on the Bassey incident, claiming it was an unfair call. "There was a pre-foul before the foul. Calvin Bassey's jersey or shirt was being pulled by the Moroccan player. It was a 50/50 scuffle... How do you then go on to give one player a yellow card? I felt like it was too harsh," he explained. He further contended that Moroccan players avoided bookings for similar or more serious offences throughout the match.
Surprising Twist: Blame Shifts to Super Eagles' Penalty Performance
In an unexpected turn, the Ghanaian commentator clarified that he did not believe the referee's decisions were the ultimate reason for Nigeria's defeat. He redirected the core criticism towards the Super Eagles' failure during the penalty shootout.
"Is that the reason Nigeria did not qualify for the finals? Because it's not," he asserted firmly. His analysis concluded that while the refereeing may have been questionable, Nigeria's inability to convert their penalties was the definitive cause of their elimination from the tournament.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerian Netizens
The viral video sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerian social media users. Some appreciated the fan's apparent objectivity.
Ademola commented: "God bless you for the honest truth." Others, however, questioned the basis of his claims or focused on different factors.
Mpsolar1 countered: "Did Nigeria scored and referee disallowed? This is no excuse. Check Morocco heat maps." Another user, ThirdEye, placed responsibility on the Nigerian team's management: "The coach should be held accountable for choosing these penalty takers."
This incident echoes sentiments reported earlier by Legit.ng, where a Nigerian fan also accused the match officials of bias and suggested that hosting future tournaments could be crucial for Nigeria's success.
The viral analysis highlights the intense scrutiny and passionate debates that follow major football matches in Africa, transcending national rivalries when it comes to dissecting the beautiful game's pivotal moments.
