Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Ban for Official Verbal Assault at Afcon.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate 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 decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the tournament clash on Sunday, a loss that sealed the side's exit from the competition.

The referee reported that the two footballers "continually directed insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a context of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nonetheless represent a serious violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official.

Two matches of the respective bans for the two players have been deferred for a term of one year.

Tournament Consequences

Both players will now miss their nation's final group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the country's football federation has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Further Disciplinary Measures

Elsewhere, the continental body have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-game interview following his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.