Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Suspension for Official Abuse at Afcon.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his side's last group game at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the match official after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.
The official stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.
A portion of the respective suspensions for the two players have been suspended for a period of one calendar year.
Immediate Consequences
The duo will now miss their nation's last group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.
The match report indicated there was "a progressive deterioration in conduct on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Additional Disciplinary Action
Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "offensive comments" made in a post-game media appearance after his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.
