Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Four-Match Ban for Official Abuse at Afcon.
The team captain will be absent for his nation's final group fixture at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four games for abusing the referee after their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the Group E clash on Sunday, a result that sealed the team's exit from the competition.
The referee reported that the two players "continually uttered insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.
"Such comments were delivered in a context of extreme anger stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless represent a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee.
Two matches of the individual bans for the two players have been suspended for a term of one year.
Tournament Consequences
The duo will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the officials.
The official documentation indicated there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Disciplinary Action
Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-match interview after his side's defeat to Angola.
