National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Africa Cup of Nations.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been banned for four games for abusing the referee after their 1-0 defeat by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.
The decision was made by a governing body committee after it examined the official's match report from the Group E clash on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition.
The official stated that the two footballers "repeatedly uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle.
"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme frustration related to the loss, but nevertheless constitute a grave breach of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the official.
Two matches of the respective suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.
Immediate Impact
The duo will be unavailable for their nation's final group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.
In a related development, the country's football federation has been fined a sum of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.
The match report indicated there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Additional Disciplinary Action
In another incident, the continental body have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-game media appearance after his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.
