Equatorial Guinea Duo Issued Four-Match Suspension for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for abusing the referee following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.

The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a result that sealed the team's exit from the competition.

The official reported that the two footballers "repeatedly uttered abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were made in a context of intense frustration stemming from the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the referee.

Two matches of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one year.

Immediate Impact

Both players will now miss their nation's last group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive protests" against decisions by the officials.

The official documentation indicated there was "a steady decline in conduct on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive comments" made in a post-match media appearance following his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.