Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E clash on the weekend, a result that sealed the team's exit from the tournament.

The referee stated that the two footballers "repeatedly uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants following the full-time whistle.

"These remarks were made in a context of extreme anger stemming from the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the referee.

A portion of the individual bans for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a period of one calendar year.

Tournament Impact

Both players will now miss their team's last group match against their next opponents on midweek.

Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.

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

Further Disciplinary Action

Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-game interview following his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.