National Thunder Duo Handed Multi-Game Ban for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.
The team captain will be absent for his side's final tournament fixture at Afcon 2025.
The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four matches for abusing the referee after their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the referee's report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a result that confirmed the side's elimination from the competition.
The referee reported that the two players "continually uttered insulting and offensive comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.
"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of intense frustration stemming from the loss, but nevertheless represent a serious violation of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the referee.
Two matches of the respective bans for Akapo and Miranda have been suspended for a period of one year.
Tournament Impact
Both players will now miss their nation's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.
In a related development, the country's football federation has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and players engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the officials.
The official documentation detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the second half.
Further Disciplinary Measures
In another incident, the tournament organizers have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-match interview following his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.
