Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Four-Match Ban for Official Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final group game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned 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 examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on the weekend, a result that confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.
The referee stated that the two footballers "continually uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants following the full-time whistle.
"These remarks were made in a context of extreme anger stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave violation of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.
Two matches of the individual bans for the two players have been suspended for a period of one year.
Immediate Impact
The duo will now miss their nation's last tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the nation's governing body has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive protests" against calls by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Additional Disciplinary Action
In another incident, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-game interview following his side's defeat to their Group E rivals.
