National Thunder Pair Issued 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 Afcon.

The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a loss that confirmed the team's exit from the competition.

The referee stated that the two players "continually directed abusive and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of intense frustration related to the loss, but nonetheless represent a grave breach of the standards of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.

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

Immediate Impact

The duo will now miss their team's last tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.

Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against decisions by the officials.

The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Disciplinary Action

In another incident, the tournament organizers have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game interview after his team's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.