Ghanaian match official Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea has been forced to deactivate his Instagram account in the wake of a torrent of online abuse from Nigerian football fans. The backlash stems from his controversial handling of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and host nation Morocco.
Controversial Calls Mar High-Stakes Semi-Final
The crucial match, which took place on the road to the AFCON final, ended with Nigeria's defeat 4-2 on penalties after regular time. However, the spotlight quickly turned to referee Laryea's performance. Nigerian supporters and analysts pointed to a series of dubious decisions, with one particular incident drawing intense ire.
The pivotal moment was the yellow card shown to defender Calvin Bassey. This booking proved catastrophic for the Super Eagles, as it was Bassey's second of the tournament, resulting in an automatic suspension. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that the card ruled Bassey out of the subsequent third-place playoff match, depleting Nigeria's defensive options.
Many had questioned CAF's initial appointment of a Ghanaian referee with a notedly inconsistent track record for such a critical fixture involving West African rivals. The events of the match, in the eyes of Nigerian fans, validated those pre-match concerns.
Social Media Storm and Account Deactivation
Following the final whistle, aggrieved Nigerian fans swiftly located Laryea's social media profiles on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to voice their displeasure directly. The onslaught of criticism led to a significant digital consequence.
As observed and reported by online commentators, Laryea's Instagram handle @daniel.n.laryea suddenly became inaccessible. The account, which previously boasted over 2,000 followers and more than a hundred posts, was no longer active on the platform. While some speculated that mass reporting by users led to its removal, evidence suggests the referee chose to deactivate the account himself as a protective measure against the relentless online attacks.
This defensive move did not quell the outrage, as Nigerians continued to express their frustration on his still-active X account. Prominent voices in the Nigerian sports community weighed in heavily on the platform.
Influential blogger @Omojuwa condemned the officiating, stating, "The officiating was atrocious. I hope that the referee seeks a different professional path from being a judge at anything that requires fairness."
Sports journalist @ColinUdoh offered a more analytical critique, noting, "...the cumulative nature of those little niggly calls meant it broke up Nigeria’s rhythm enough... in a game that was ultimately one of very small margins, they could not win."
Official Reactions and Lasting Fallout
The discontent was not limited to fans and pundits. Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel publicly slammed Laryea's performance in a post-match interview. Speaking to Dr Ademola TV, Osayi-Samuel did not mince words, describing the referee as "appalling" and lamenting the poor decision-making in a game of such magnitude.
This incident has also cast a shadow on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). Prior to the match, the NFF had addressed concerns about Laryea's appointment, urging calm and dismissing fears of potential bias. In the aftermath, with the fears of many Nigerians realized, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau faces considerable embarrassment for his earlier assurances.
The Super Eagles, now without the suspended Calvin Bassey, were scheduled to face Egypt in the AFCON 2025 third-place match at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
The episode underscores the intense passion surrounding African football and the growing impact of social media as a channel for fan sentiment, capable of driving real-world consequences for match officials caught in the crossfire of a controversial result.
