Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for abusing the match official following their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.

The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the Group E clash on Sunday, a loss that sealed the team's exit from the tournament.

The referee reported that the two footballers "repeatedly uttered insulting and offensive remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.

"Such comments were made in a context of extreme anger stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave breach of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.

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

Tournament Consequences

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

Meanwhile, the nation's governing body has been penalized a amount of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive protests" against calls by the officials.

The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Further Governing Body Measures

In another incident, the continental body have additionally penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-match interview following his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.