Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Ban for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will miss his side's final group fixture at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for abusing the match official following their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it examined the official's match report from the Group E clash on Sunday, a loss that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.
The referee stated that the two footballers "repeatedly directed insulting and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless represent a grave breach of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the official.
A portion of the respective bans for the two players have been deferred for a period of one calendar year.
Immediate 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 football federation has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Additional Disciplinary Measures
In another incident, the continental body have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.
