Equatorial Guinea Duo Issued Four-Match Ban 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 verbally attacking the match official following their narrow loss by their opponents at the 2025 Afcon.

The ruling was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it examined the official's match report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a loss that sealed the side's exit from the competition.

The referee stated that the two players "continually uttered abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his assistants following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were made in a context of intense anger stemming from the defeat, but nonetheless represent a serious violation of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.

Two matches of the individual bans for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one year.

Tournament Impact

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

In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive protests" against calls by the refereeing team.

The official documentation detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "offensive remarks" made in a post-game interview following his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.