National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Suspension for Official Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will be absent for his nation's last tournament game at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four games for verbally attacking the referee after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The decision was made by a disciplinary panel after it reviewed the official's match report from the Group E encounter on Sunday, a loss that confirmed the team's elimination from the competition.
The referee stated that the two footballers "repeatedly directed insulting and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.
"These remarks were made in a context of intense anger stemming from the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a serious violation of the standards of sportsmanship and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the referee.
Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a period of one year.
Tournament Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their nation's last group match against Algeria 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 squad members engaged in "persistent and aggressive complaints" against calls by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a steady deterioration in conduct on the touchline" following an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Further Governing Body Action
Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-match interview following his team's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
