🔗 Share this article National Thunder Pair Handed Four-Match Ban for Official Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations. Carlos Akapo will miss his side's last tournament 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 match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the team's exit from the tournament. The official reported that the two players "repeatedly uttered abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the full-time whistle. "These remarks were made in a context of extreme anger related to the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the referee. A portion of the respective bans for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one calendar year. Immediate Consequences The duo will be unavailable for their team's last group match against Algeria on Wednesday. In a related development, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "excessive and abusive complaints" against calls by the officials. The official documentation indicated there was "a steady decline in conduct on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Disciplinary Action In another incident, the tournament organizers have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.
Carlos Akapo will miss his side's last tournament 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 match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a loss that sealed the team's exit from the tournament. The official reported that the two players "repeatedly uttered abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the full-time whistle. "These remarks were made in a context of extreme anger related to the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the referee. A portion of the respective bans for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one calendar year. Immediate Consequences The duo will be unavailable for their team's last group match against Algeria on Wednesday. In a related development, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "excessive and abusive complaints" against calls by the officials. The official documentation indicated there was "a steady decline in conduct on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Disciplinary Action In another incident, the tournament organizers have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.