National Thunder Duo Handed Four-Match Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for verbally attacking the referee after their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition.

The referee stated that the two players "continually uttered insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a context of intense anger related to the loss, but nonetheless constitute a grave violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the official.

A portion of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one calendar year.

Tournament Consequences

Both players will be unavailable for their nation's last group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been fined a amount of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the officials.

The match report indicated there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Additional Governing Body Measures

Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" made in a post-match interview after his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.