Equatorial Guinea Duo Issued Four-Match Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for abusing the match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was made by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.

The official reported that the two footballers "continually directed abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"Such comments were made in a context of intense frustration related to the defeat, but nonetheless represent a serious breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.

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

Immediate Consequences

The duo will now miss their team's last group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The match report indicated there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Governing Body Action

In another incident, the continental body have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.