National Thunder Duo Issued Four-Match Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.
Carlos Akapo will miss his side's final tournament game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for abusing the referee following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's elimination from the competition.
The official stated that the two footballers "repeatedly directed insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were made in a context of intense frustration related to the defeat, but nevertheless represent a serious violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the referee.
A portion of the respective suspensions for the two players have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.
Immediate Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and abusive protests" against calls by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Disciplinary Measures
Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-match interview after his team's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
