Equatorial Guinea Duo Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will miss his nation's final group fixture at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four games for verbally attacking the match official after their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on the weekend, a loss that sealed the side's elimination from the competition.
The referee reported that the two players "repeatedly uttered abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen after the full-time whistle.
"These remarks were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a serious breach of the standards of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official.
A portion of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year.
Immediate Impact
Both players will now miss their team's last group match against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the nation's football federation has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The match report indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Further Governing Body Action
In another incident, the continental body have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-game interview after his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
