🔗 Share this article Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon. Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for abusing the match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the tournament clash on Sunday, a result that confirmed the side's elimination from the competition. The referee stated that the two players "continually directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a context of intense anger stemming from the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee. Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one year. Tournament Impact Both players will be unavailable for their nation's final group match against Algeria on midweek. Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team. The match report indicated there was "a progressive decline in conduct on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his side's defeat to Angola.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for abusing the match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the tournament clash on Sunday, a result that confirmed the side's elimination from the competition. The referee stated that the two players "continually directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a context of intense anger stemming from the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee. Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one year. Tournament Impact Both players will be unavailable for their nation's final group match against Algeria on midweek. Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team. The match report indicated there was "a progressive decline in conduct on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his side's defeat to Angola.