Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea has earned a coveted place on the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) list of match officials for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, becoming the only Ghanaian selected to officiate at the continental showpiece.
CAF has appointed a total of 73 top-class officials—28 centre referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 Video Assistant Referees (VAR)—drawn from across the continent’s six zones. The selection, described by CAF as “highly experienced and carefully chosen,” includes many referees who have handled major finals in the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, and previous AFCON tournaments.
Laryea, a FIFA-badge holder since 2014 and one of Ghana’s most consistent performers, will travel to Morocco on 15 December 2025 along with the rest of the officiating team for a mandatory three-week preparatory seminar.
The intensive camp, organised by CAF’s Referees Department, will feature physical fitness tests, technical drills, practical video sessions, and theoretical examinations to ensure all officials are at peak condition when the tournament kicks off.
The 35th edition of Africa’s biggest football competition will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with matches staged in six Moroccan cities including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez.
CAF statement reads: “
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has announced the list of Match Officials set to officiate the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 that will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
A total of 73 highly experienced officials comprising 28 referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 VAR officials have been appointed for this edition of Africa’s biggest football competition.
The carefully selected officials represent all regions of the continent and include some of Africa’s most experienced referees, who have officiated across a number of major CAF competitions in recent years.
All appointed match officials are expected to arrive in Morocco on 15 December 2025 for an intensive preparatory course ahead of the competition.
The programme, which will be led by CAF’s Referees Department, will include physical, technical, and theoretical assessments designed to ensure optimum performance throughout the tournament.
This careful selection of highly experienced match officials underscores CAF’s continued commitment to refereeing excellence, competition integrity and CAF’s ongoing enhancements of technical standards across African football.”
For Laryea, the appointment caps a remarkable rise. He has previously served as a VAR official at AFCON 2021 and 2023, refereed CAF Champions League semi-finals, and taken charge of high-profile domestic derbies in Ghana.
His selection is a source of national pride and a testament to the growing reputation of Ghanaian referees on the continental stage.
CAF emphasised that the chosen officials represent the best of African refereeing talent and will play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and excitement of what promises to be another unforgettable AFCON tournament.