Ghanaian referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea found himself at the centre of controversy again after awarding a penalty that helped Kaizer Chiefs beat Al Masry in the CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash, Soccernet.ng reports.
The match-winning moment came in the 39th minute when Laryea pointed to the spot after ruling that Al Masry defender Ahmed Mansour had handled Glody Lilepo’s low shot.
Replays suggested Mansour’s arm was close to his body, which prompted protests from Egyptian players and bench staff before Flavio Silva converted the penalty.
Aden McCarthy added a second for Chiefs in the 60th minute, while Abderrahim Deghmoum pulled one back for Al Masry in the 57th minute.
Laryea sparks memories of AFCON 2025 semifinal
Laryea’s decision drew immediate parallels to Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 semifinal defeat to Morocco, in which the referee faced widespread criticism for contentious calls, including a yellow card for Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey and unpunished fouls against the hosts.
The 0-0 match ended with Morocco winning 4-2 on penalties, which sparked outrage among Nigerian players over perceived bias.
CAF’s appointment of Laryea for the Chiefs-Al Masry game, despite the previous backlash, has been perceived as the federation’s continued confidence in the FIFA-listed official.
Meanwhile, a section of the Nigerian football community quickly drew comparisons between the two matches, questioning consistency in handball decisions and referee conduct, particularly in games without VAR, which remains unavailable during the CAF group stages.
Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana didn’t hold back on social media, criticising Laryea’s latest decision and linking it to his controversial AFCON 2025 semifinal performance.
He said: “Your refereeing in the Morocco v Nigeria AFCON 2025 semifinal was a mess. You just gave a dubious penalty to Kaizer Chiefs in the CAF Confederation Cup game against Al Masry. How was that clear ‘ball to hand’, with the arm tightly by the defender’s body, interfering with play?”
Watch Laryea’s call here:
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi welcomed the three points, which put his side top of Group D ahead of their final match against Zamalek. For Al Masry, the defeat complicates their path to the knockout stage and reignites debates over refereeing decisions in African club football.
