The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea as the centre referee for the highly anticipated AFCON 2025 semi-final clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and hosts Morocco.
This blockbuster encounter, set to take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat, promises to be a tense and decisive match that will determine one of the two finalists in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Laryea, a highly respected and experienced official widely regarded as one of Africa’s top referees, has been entrusted with this high-profile role following his solid performances throughout the competition so far.
The 38 old Ghanaian has previously officiated in multiple AFCON editions, CAF Champions League fixtures, and other major continental events, earning praise for his composure, fairness, and ability to handle pressure-packed games.
Notably, he served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during Morocco’s dramatic quarter-final victory over Cameroon earlier in the tournament, which further demonstrates CAF’s ongoing confidence in his decision-making.
Assisting Laryea on the field will be a balanced team of assistant referees, including South Africa’s Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela and Lesotho’s Souru Phatsoane, while Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda has been named as the fourth official.
To ensure technological support and accuracy in critical moments, South African referee Abongile Tom will lead the VAR team. He will be supported by Tunisia’s Haythem Guirat and Kenya’s Stephen Onyango Yiembe in the video review process, with Ethiopia’s Lidya Tafesse Abebe appointed as the referee assessor to oversee overall consistency and control.
This appointment comes amid a tournament that has already seen its share of officiating debates and controversies, making the choices for these semi-finals particularly scrutinized.
Both Nigeria, riding strong form after their quarter-final success, and Morocco, fueled by passionate home support in their bid for a first AFCON title since 1976, will be hoping for a fair and incident-free contest under Laryea’s leadership.