Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's last group game at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the referee after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan 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 Group E encounter on the weekend, a result that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.
The referee reported that the two players "continually directed insulting and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were made in a context of extreme frustration stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless represent a grave violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the official.
A portion of the individual bans for the two players have been deferred for a period of one calendar year.
Immediate Impact
Both players will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the country's governing body has been penalized a amount of $10,000 after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Additional Disciplinary Action
Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-game media appearance following his team's defeat to Angola.
