Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Official Abuse at Afcon.

The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.

The decision was made by a governing body committee after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the team's elimination from the competition.

The referee stated that the two footballers "continually directed abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme frustration stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official.

Two matches of the respective suspensions for the two players have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.

Tournament Consequences

Both players will be unavailable for their nation's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.

Meanwhile, the nation's governing body has been penalized a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive decline in conduct on the touchline" following an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Additional Governing Body Measures

In another incident, the continental body have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.