Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued 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 after their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.

The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the side's elimination from the tournament.

The referee stated that the two footballers "continually directed abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the referee.

A portion of the respective suspensions for the two players have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.

Tournament Impact

Both players will now miss their team's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on Wednesday.

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

The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the continental body have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" made in a post-game media appearance following his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.