Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Four-Match Ban for Official Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games for abusing the match official following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the tournament clash on the weekend, a loss that confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.

The official stated that the two footballers "continually uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle.

"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless represent a grave violation of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.

A portion of the respective suspensions for the two players have been suspended for a term of one year.

Immediate Impact

Both players will now miss their nation's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.

Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive protests" against calls by the officials.

The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in conduct on the touchline" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Additional Governing Body Measures

Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-game media appearance following his side's defeat to Angola.