The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Laryea to officiate the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash between Nigeria and host nation Morocco. CAF released the list of match officials for the encounter on Tuesday ahead of the highly anticipated showdown scheduled for Wednesday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. Kick-off is set for 9:00 pm Nigerian time. Nii Laryea will be assisted by South Africa’s Zakhele Siwela and Lesotho’s Souru Phatsoane, who will serve as first and second assistant referees respectively. Mozambique’s Arsénio Maringule has been named the third assistant referee, while Rwanda’s Samuel Uwikunda will act as the fourth official. In the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) booth, South Africa’s Tom Abongile will lead the team, supported by Haythem Guirat of Tunisia and Stephen Yiembe of Kenya. Ethiopia’s Lydia Abebe will serve as the referee assessor for the match. READ ALSO: CAF fines Egypt $5,000 over media snub after Zimbabwe match The semi-final pits Africa’s most successful national team, Nigeria, against a formidable Moroccan side enjoying home support as they chase continental glory. The Super Eagles booked their place in the last four with a convincing 2–0 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals, following an emphatic second-round win against Mozambique. Eric Chelle’s men were dominant in the group stage, finishing with a perfect nine points from three matches. Nigeria have been the tournament’s most prolific side, scoring 14 goals so far and setting a new national record for goals scored in a single AFCON campaign. The appointment of officials from multiple countries comes amid heightened rivalries in African football, particularly involving Nigeria and South Africa following recent tensions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Wednesday’s encounter is expected to be a fiercely contested affair, with a place in the AFCON final at stake.
AFCON: Ghanaian referee to preside over Nigeria, Morocco match
