Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Four-Match Ban for Official Verbal Assault at Afcon.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the match official after their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a loss that confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.

The official reported that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants after the final whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a grave violation of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.

Two matches of the respective bans for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one calendar year.

Tournament Impact

The duo will be unavailable for their team's last group match against their next opponents on midweek.

Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The official documentation indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the continental body have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-game media appearance following his team's 1-0 loss to Angola.