Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré has launched a scathing criticism of Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea, claiming poor officiating cost his team in their 1-0 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) defeat to Algeria on Saturday.
The decisive moment came in the first half, when Laryea awarded Algeria a penalty, which captain Riyad Mahrez converted. The goal proved enough to secure Algeria's qualification for the Round of 16.
Traore, however, claimed the officiating was heavily biased, pointing to two key incidents. The Aston Villa forward alleged he was denied a clear penalty in the opening moments of the match, a decision not reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
“I think there was a penalty on me in the first action of the match. The referee didn’t even check VAR,” Traoré told beIN Sports after the match. “And then, as if by magic, he stayed on the pitch for Algeria’s penalty and confirmed it.”
His frustration deepened as the game progressed, culminating in a heated exchange with the official. “In the end, the referee pushes me… That’s it… It’s disappointing,” Traoré stated.
The forward issued a damning verdict on the overall standard, suggesting it was harming the tournament's integrity: “It’s a shame for African football, for the AFCON. The referees are ruining the match… We mustn’t spoil the competition.”
The controversial loss leaves Burkina Faso's qualification hopes in the balance. They must now secure a positive result in their final Group E match against Sudan on Wednesday, December 31, to keep their knockout stage aspirations alive.
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