National Thunder Duo Issued Four-Match Suspension for Official Verbal Assault at Afcon.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for verbally attacking 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 reviewed the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a result that confirmed the side's exit from the tournament.

The referee stated that the two footballers "continually uttered insulting and obscene comments" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.

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

Two matches of the individual suspensions for the two players have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.

Tournament Consequences

Both players will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "excessive and abusive protests" against calls by the officials.

The official documentation detailed there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Further Disciplinary Action

Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-match interview following his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.