Equatorial Guinea Duo Issued Multi-Game Suspension for Official Abuse at Afcon.
Carlos Akapo will miss his nation's last tournament game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee after their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.
The decision was made by a governing body committee after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on the weekend, a loss that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.
The referee stated that the two players "repeatedly directed insulting and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.
"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a serious breach of the standards of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official.
A portion of the respective bans for the two players have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.
Immediate Impact
Both players will now miss their nation's final group match against Algeria on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the country's football federation has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials.
The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Governing Body Measures
Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive comments" made in a post-match media appearance following his side's defeat to Angola.
