National Thunder Pair Handed Four-Match Ban for Official Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will miss his side's last group fixture at Afcon 2025.
Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for abusing the referee following their narrow loss 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 Group E clash on the weekend, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition.
The official stated that the two players "continually directed insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his assistants after the full-time whistle.
"These remarks were delivered in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious breach of the standards of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," added the referee.
Two matches of the respective bans for the two players have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.
Immediate Consequences
The duo will be unavailable for their team's last tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the nation's governing body has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and abusive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.
The official documentation indicated there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Further Disciplinary Measures
Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-match interview after his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
