National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will be absent for his side's final tournament game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for abusing the referee following their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition.
The official stated that the two footballers "continually uttered abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.
"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a serious violation of the principles of respect and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the referee.
Two matches of the individual bans for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.
Tournament Impact
Both players will now miss their team's last tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the nation's football federation has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.
The official documentation indicated there was "a steady deterioration in conduct on the touchline" following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Further Governing Body Measures
Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his side's defeat to their Group E rivals.
