The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Ghanaian official Daniel Nii Laryea as the center referee for the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final clash between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Morocco’s Atlas Lions.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at 9:00 PM Nigerian time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Match Officials List:
Referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana)
Assistant Referees: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa) and Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho)
Third Assistant Referee: Arsénio Maringule (Mozambique)
Fourth Official: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Team:
Tom Abongile (South Africa)
Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
Stephen Yiembe (Kenya)
Lydia Abebe will serve as the referee assessor for the match.
The selection of a South African assistant referee adds a layer of narrative to the fixture, given the recent competitive history between Nigeria and South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has previously expressed opposition to Nigeria’s World Cup qualification following a FIFA sanction imposed on South Africa for fielding an ineligible player.
Nigeria enters the semi-final in impressive form, having defeated Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals and Mozambique in the round of 16. The Super Eagles finished the group stage with a perfect record and are the tournament's highest-scoring team with 14 goals, setting a new national record for goals in a single AFCON edition.
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