National Thunder Duo Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Official Verbal Assault at Afcon.
The team captain will miss his side's last group game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for abusing the referee following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The ruling was made by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the side's exit from the competition.
The referee reported that the two footballers "repeatedly uttered abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.
"These remarks were delivered in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.
Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.
Immediate Impact
The duo will now miss their team's last tournament fixture against their next opponents on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the nation's governing body has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The match report indicated there was "a steady deterioration in conduct on the touchline" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Additional Disciplinary Action
In another incident, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance following his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.
