🔗 Share this article National Thunder Duo Handed Four-Match Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations. Carlos Akapo will miss his nation's last tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon. The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that sealed the team's elimination from the competition. The referee stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious breach of the standards of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official. Two matches of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year. Immediate Impact Both players will be unavailable for their team's final group match against their next opponents on Wednesday. In a related development, the nation's football federation has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against calls by the officials. The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half. Additional Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his team's defeat to Angola.
Carlos Akapo will miss his nation's last tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon. The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that sealed the team's elimination from the competition. The referee stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious breach of the standards of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official. Two matches of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year. Immediate Impact Both players will be unavailable for their team's final group match against their next opponents on Wednesday. In a related development, the nation's football federation has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against calls by the officials. The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half. Additional Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his team's defeat to Angola.