Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Suspension for Official Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The ruling was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that sealed the team's exit from the competition.
The referee reported that the two footballers "continually directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were delivered in a context of intense anger related to the loss, but nonetheless represent a serious breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee.
Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.
Tournament Consequences
Both players will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.
In a related development, the nation's governing body has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against calls by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive decline in conduct on the sidelines" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Disciplinary Measures
Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive comments" made in a post-match media appearance following his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.
