Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's last group fixture at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for abusing the match official after their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the Group E clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the team's elimination from the tournament.
The referee reported that the two players "continually uttered insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his assistants after the final whistle.
"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the loss, but nevertheless represent a grave breach of the standards of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official.
A portion of the respective suspensions for the two players have been deferred for a term of one year.
Tournament Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their team's last tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the country's governing body has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and abusive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.
The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Disciplinary Measures
In another incident, the continental body have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive comments" made in a post-match media appearance following his side's defeat to their Group E rivals.
