Instagram Takes Down Daniel Laryea’s Account After AFCON Backlash

Instagram Removes Daniel Laryea’s Official Account

Instagram has taken down the official account of Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea after it was reportedly mass-reported by Nigerian football fans.

The development followed Nigeria’s defeat to Morocco in the AFCON semi-final on January 14, 2026, where the Super Eagles lost 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw in Rabat.

Nigerians Blame Referee After Semi-Final Loss

Following the match, many Nigerian fans expressed anger online, accusing the referee of biased and poor officiating during the high-stakes encounter.

Statistics from the game fueled the criticism. Nigeria committed 29 fouls compared to Morocco’s 19, yet the Super Eagles received two yellow cards, while Morocco were not booked once.

This sparked widespread debate and outrage on social media platforms.

READ ALSO; Morocco Beat Nigeria on Penalties to Reach AFCON 2025 Final

Fans Report Referee’s Instagram Page

In the hours after the match, angry fans reportedly flooded Daniel Laryea’s Instagram page with insults, while others reported the account for alleged misconduct.

A search for his verified account, @daniel.n.laryea, now shows that it has been deactivated and is no longer available on Instagram.

Match Recap: Nigeria vs Morocco

The semi-final clash ended 0–0 after extra time at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

During the penalty shootout:

Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed for Nigeria Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved both spot-kicks

Morocco went on to win 4–2 on penalties and booked a place in the AFCON final.

Pressure Mounts on Daniel Laryea

The deactivation of the referee’s Instagram account adds to the intense pressure and scrutiny he has faced since the game.

Instead of the football itself, officiating decisions have dominated discussions, with Daniel Laryea at the centre of the controversy.

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