Equatorial Guinea Duo Handed Four-Match Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.

The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been banned for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision 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 confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.

The referee reported that the two players "repeatedly uttered abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a context of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a grave violation of the principles of respect and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the referee.

Two matches of the individual suspensions for the two players have been suspended for a period of one year.

Tournament Impact

Both players will now miss their nation's last group match against Algeria on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and abusive protests" against calls by the refereeing team.

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

Further Disciplinary Measures

Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-match media appearance after his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.