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

The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for verbally attacking the referee following their 1-0 defeat 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 clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the side's exit from the competition.

The referee stated that the two footballers "continually directed insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of intense frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless constitute a grave violation of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the official.

A portion of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year.

Immediate Consequences

The duo will now miss their nation's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a amount of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive protests" against calls by the refereeing team.

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 second half.

Additional Disciplinary Action

In another incident, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-match interview following his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.