Equatorial Guinea Duo Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.

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

The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's elimination from the tournament.

The referee reported that the two footballers "repeatedly directed insulting and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"These remarks were delivered in a context of intense anger related to the defeat, but nonetheless represent a serious violation of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official.

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

Tournament Impact

Both players will now miss their team's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.

In a related development, the nation's football federation has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "excessive and abusive protests" against decisions by the officials.

The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Further Governing Body Action

In another incident, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game interview after his side's defeat to their Group E rivals.