National Thunder Duo Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his side's final group game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a result that sealed the team's elimination from the competition.
The official reported that the two players "continually uttered abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.
"These remarks were delivered in a context of extreme frustration stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless represent a grave breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official.
A portion of the individual bans for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year.
Tournament Consequences
Both players will now miss their nation's final group match against their next opponents on midweek.
In a related development, the country's governing body has been fined a amount of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against decisions by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a steady deterioration in conduct on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Further Disciplinary Measures
In another incident, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-game interview following his side's defeat to Angola.
