Ghanaian refereeing history was rewritten at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Daniel Laryea became the first Ghanaian referee in 54 years to officiate an AFCON semi-final, marking a landmark moment for Ghana’s presence on the continent’s biggest football stage.
The highly respected official was entrusted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to handle the high-profile semi-final encounter between host nation Morocco and Nigeria, a clear endorsement of his consistency, authority and elite-level competence. The appointment signaled Ghana’s long-awaited return to the latter stages of Africa’s premier football tournament in an officiating capacity.
Laryea now becomes only the second Ghanaian referee to officiate an AFCON semi-final, following the late George Lamptey, who took charge of the 1972 semi-final in Cameroon between Zaire and Mali. Lamptey also officiated the third-place playoff at the same tournament, where hosts Cameroon defeated Zaire 5–2 to secure the bronze medal.
More than five decades after Lamptey’s trailblazing achievement, Daniel Laryea’s rise represents a powerful renewal of Ghanaian officiating excellence. In an era where referees operate under intense scrutiny, global broadcast exposure and advanced VAR analysis, the 38-year-old delivered composed and authoritative performances throughout AFCON 2025, earning CAF’s confidence at the highest level.
The milestone carries added weight given Ghana’s prolonged absence from AFCON semi-final officiating appointments and comes nearly a decade after a major refereeing controversy on the continent placed African officiating under intense global scrutiny. Against that backdrop, Laryea’s performance stands as a symbol of progress, professionalism and restored credibility for Ghanaian and African refereeing.
A FIFA-badged referee since 2014, Daniel Laryea has steadily built his reputation through discipline, consistency and excellent match control across domestic and international competitions. His historic AFCON 2025 semi-final appointment is not only a personal achievement, but also a defining moment for Ghana’s football administration and refereeing standards.
After 54 long years, Ghana once again has a referee trusted with the biggest moments on Africa’s grandest stage — and in Daniel Laryea, the nation has found a standard-bearer whose rise signals a new era of respect, relevance and global recognition in football officiating.
