Equatorial Guinea Duo Issued Four-Match Ban for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will miss his nation's final group fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.
The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the tournament clash on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's elimination from the tournament.
The official reported that the two footballers "repeatedly directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.
"These remarks were made in a context of intense frustration stemming from the loss, but nonetheless represent a grave violation of the principles of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the official.
Two matches of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one year.
Tournament Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their nation's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.
Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The match report indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Governing Body Measures
Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-game media appearance following his team's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
