THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea to officiate the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 semi-final clash between Nigeria and host nation Morocco, scheduled for Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that CAF released the list of match officials on Tuesday, confirming Laryea as the centre referee for the high-stakes encounter that will determine one of the finalists of the continental showpiece.
He will be assisted by Zakhele Siwela of South Africa and Souru Phatsoane of Lesotho, while Arsénio Maringule of Mozambique will serve as the third assistant referee. Samuel Uwikunda of Rwanda has been appointed as the fourth official.
For the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), CAF named Tom Abongile of South Africa, Haythem Guirat of Tunisia and Stephen Yiembe of Kenya to oversee key decisions during the match.
Nigeria head into the semi-final brimming with confidence following a commanding 2–0 quarter-final victory over Algeria in Marrakesh, courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.
The Super Eagles have emerged as the most prolific side in the tournament, scoring 14 goals so far, with Osimhen contributing four and Ademola Lookman adding three to underline Nigeria’s attacking dominance.
Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked team, also secured a 2–0 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, setting up a mouth-watering clash with the three-time African champions.
Ahead of the crucial encounter, Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi has attributed the team’s impressive run to a renewed sense of unity and brotherhood instilled by head coach Eric Chelle.
Speaking at a packed pre-match press conference in Rabat, the Fulham star said the current squad is mentally stronger and more cohesive than previous generations.
“I feel like the difference is the sense of brotherhood, the family environment that we have created for each other,” Iwobi said.
“At previous AFCONs, we did really well, but we were younger and still learning about each other. Now, everybody is entering their prime, doing well at their clubs, and you can see the joy and chemistry when we play for our country.”
Iwobi added that the unity extends beyond the pitch, describing the team as “one big family” whose bond begins with the coach.
The midfielder revealed that Nigeria’s heartbreak in the World Cup qualifiers — which ended in a penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat last November has become a major source of motivation.
“That disappointment hurt, but we’ve used it as fuel to achieve something special — for our country, our families, and ourselves,” he said.
Nigeria reached the final of the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, losing narrowly to the hosts, and were semi-finalists in 2019. They are now aiming to reach their second AFCON final in three editions.
Coach Eric Chelle admitted that having two of Africa’s best attackers in Osimhen and Lookman has eased his job, but stressed that the Super Eagles remain a collective unit.
However, Nigeria will be without captain Wilfred Ndidi, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards. Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge is expected to deputise in midfield.
“We are a group. There are players waiting for their chance to show what they can do,” Chelle said.
Morocco will rely heavily on home advantage, with nearly 70,000 fans expected to fill the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui, who led Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, acknowledged Nigeria’s quality and warned his players of the task ahead.
“We need to be strong mentally, raise our concentration levels, run more and deny Nigeria any breathing space,” Regragui said.
The Moroccan coach also admitted to being under intense pressure to deliver the title on home soil, saying criticism is part of the job.
“When you coach Morocco, you must accept the pressure. What matters is what happens on the pitch,” he added.