National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Suspension for Official Verbal Assault at Afcon.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his side's last group fixture at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The ruling was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.
The official reported that the two players "continually uttered insulting and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.
"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee.
A portion of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.
Tournament Impact
Both players will now miss their nation's final group match against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials.
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 Governing Body Action
In another incident, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-match interview after his side's defeat to Angola.
