National Thunder Duo Handed Four-Match Ban for Official Abuse at Afcon.
The team captain will be absent for his nation's final group game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for abusing the referee after their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it reviewed the referee's report from the Group E encounter on the weekend, a loss that sealed the side's elimination from the competition.
The referee reported that the two players "repeatedly uttered abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.
"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the defeat, but nonetheless represent a serious violation of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.
A portion of the respective bans for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.
Tournament Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their nation's last group match against Algeria on midweek.
Meanwhile, the country's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and abusive complaints" against decisions by the officials.
The official documentation indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Further Governing Body Action
In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-game interview after his team's defeat to Angola.
