🔗 Share this article National Thunder Duo Issued Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations. The team captain will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for verbally attacking the match official after their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon. The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's exit from the tournament. The official stated that the two footballers "continually uttered abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle. "Such comments were delivered in a context of intense frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless constitute a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the referee. A portion of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year. Tournament Impact The duo will be unavailable for their nation's last group match against their next opponents on midweek. Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a sum of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials. The match report detailed there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Disciplinary Measures In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-game interview after his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.
The team captain will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025. Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for verbally attacking the match official after their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon. The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's exit from the tournament. The official stated that the two footballers "continually uttered abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle. "Such comments were delivered in a context of intense frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless constitute a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the referee. A portion of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a term of one year. Tournament Impact The duo will be unavailable for their nation's last group match against their next opponents on midweek. Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a sum of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials. The match report detailed there was "a progressive deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Further Disciplinary Measures In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-game interview after his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.