Equatorial Guinea Pair Handed Multi-Game Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.

Equatorial Guinea skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee following their narrow loss 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 Group E clash on Sunday, a result that sealed the side's elimination from the competition.

The referee stated that the two players "repeatedly uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of intense anger stemming from the loss, but nonetheless constitute a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.

A portion of the individual bans for the two players have been deferred for a period of one year.

Immediate Consequences

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

Meanwhile, the nation's governing body has been fined a amount of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive protests" against calls by the officials.

The match report detailed there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Additional Governing Body Measures

In another incident, the tournament organizers have also penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "offensive comments" made in a post-match interview following his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.