2025 AFCON: Referee Laryea defends AFCON semi-final performance
20th January 2026
Ghanaian referee Joseph Laryea has spoken out following criticism from some Super Eagles supporters over his officiating in the recent Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Morocco. Some fans claimed his decisions favoured the home side, but Laryea insists he maintained professionalism and applied the Laws of the Game throughout the match.
In an interview with the media after returning from Morocco, Laryea said he deliberately ignored online criticism and rivalry-driven narratives surrounding the high-profile fixture. “For me, I just do my refereeing. I just do football,” he stated.
The semi-final marked a milestone in Laryea’s career, being his first time officiating at this stage of the AFCON. “When you are given such a stage, it is a big opportunity,” he reflected. “There was a bit of anxiety because it was my first AFCON semi-final, but I approached it with focus.”
Acknowledging the pressure of officiating late-stage tournament matches, Laryea added: “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.”
Laryea’s comments underline the challenges referees face in high-stakes games and the need to balance fairness with the intense scrutiny that comes with international football.