Equatorial Guinea captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games following their conduct after the National Thunder’s 1-0 defeat to Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to BBC Sport on Wednesday, the Confederation of African Football disciplinary panel made the decision after reviewing the referee’s report from the Group E match on Sunday, which resulted in Equatorial Guinea being eliminated from the tournament.
Referee Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou reported that both players repeatedly insulted and directed obscene remarks at him and his assistants after the final whistle. While the abuse was said to have occurred in the heat of anger over the defeat, the official stated it violated the principles of respect, fair play, and Caf disciplinary regulations.
“These remarks were made in a context of intense anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a serious breach of the principles of respect and fair play as well as the Caf disciplinary regulations,” added the Congolese official.
Two matches of each player’s suspension have been suspended for one year, meaning Akapo and Miranda will miss only the National Thunder’s final group match against Algeria on Wednesday (16:00 GMT).
In addition to the player suspensions, Equatorial Guinea’s football federation (Feguifut) was fined $10,000 (£7,435) after its technical staff and players made “excessive and abusive protests” against refereeing decisions. Nkounkou Mvoutou noted that tensions escalated on the sidelines following an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Elsewhere in Group E, Caf fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré $10,000 (£7,435) for making offensive remarks in a post-match interview after the Stallions lost 1-0 to Angola.
The disciplinary measures reflect Caf’s efforts to maintain respect, discipline, and fair play throughout the tournament.
