Equatorial Guinea Pair Issued Multi-Game Ban for Official Abuse at Afcon.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for abusing the match official after their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's elimination from the tournament.

The referee stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"Such comments were made in a context of extreme frustration stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave breach of the standards of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official.

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

Immediate Consequences

Both players will be unavailable for their nation's final 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 technical staff and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.

The official documentation indicated there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Further Governing Body Action

Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" made in a post-game media appearance after his team's defeat to Angola.