The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea to officiate the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash between hosts Morocco and Nigeria, Dip Connect Online News reports.
The high-stakes encounter is scheduled for 9pm on Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. It will be Laryea’s second assignment at the ongoing tournament.
Laryea previously officiated during the group stage in December, when Burkina Faso lost 1-0 to Algeria in a Group E match. His appointment now comes for a knockout fixture widely described as a “final before the final.”
The 38-year-old referee will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela of South Africa, Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho and Arsenio Maringule of Mozambique, while Samuel Uwikunda has been named as the fourth official.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties will be handled by South Africa’s Abongile Tom, with Haythem Guirat of Tunisia and Stephen Onyango Yiembe of Kenya serving as assistant VAR officials. Ethiopia’s Lidya Tafesse Abebe will act as the referee assessor.
A FIFA-listed international referee since 2014, Laryea is a regular official in the Ghana Premier League. His officiating experience spans major CAF competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations, the African Nations Championship and the CAF Women’s Champions League, where he also worked as an assistant VAR during the final.
He previously took charge of the 2021 Ghana FA Cup final between Hearts of Oak and Ashanti Gold.
CAF also confirmed the officiating crew for the other AFCON semi-final between Senegal and Egypt, billed for 6pm.
Gabonese referee Pierre Atcho will officiate that encounter, assisted by compatriot Boris Ditsoga and Guinea’s Styven Moyo, with Amos Ndong as assistant referee and DR Congo’s Jean-Jacques Ndala as fourth official.
VAR responsibilities for the match will be handled by Kenya’s Peter Waweru Kamaku, supported by Letticia Viana of Eswatini and Elvis Noupue Nguegoue of Cameroon.
Elijah Adeyemi
