National Thunder Pair Handed Multi-Game Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four matches for abusing the referee 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 examined the referee's report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a result that sealed the side's exit from the tournament.

The referee reported that the two footballers "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.

"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger stemming from the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee.

A portion of the individual bans for the two players have been suspended for a period of one year.

Immediate Consequences

The duo will be unavailable for their team's final group match against Algeria on midweek.

In a related development, the nation's football federation has been penalized a amount of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The match report detailed there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" after an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Further Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-match interview after his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.