Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Four-Match Suspension for Official Abuse at Afcon.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been banned for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that sealed the side's exit from the tournament.

The official stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a grave violation of the standards 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 term of one calendar year.

Immediate Impact

The duo will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the nation's governing body has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against calls by the officials.

The official documentation indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Further Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the continental body have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-match media appearance after his side's defeat to Angola.