Equatorial Guinea Players Face Suspension for Referee Abuse at Afcon
Suspension Details
Carlos Akapo, the captain of Equatorial Guinea, along with teammate Josete Miranda, has received a four-match suspension due to inappropriate behavior directed towards the referee following their team’s 1-0 loss to Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). This decision was made by a disciplinary panel within the Confederation of African Football (Caf) after evaluating the referee’s report pertaining to the Group E match.
Incident Report
After the match, referee Messie Jessie Nkounkou Mvoutou reported that Akapo and Miranda “repeatedly launched insulting and crude comments” at him and his officiating team. While acknowledging that these comments emerged from their frustration over the defeat, he emphasized that such conduct represents a significant violation of respect, fair play, and Caf’s disciplinary protocols.
Two matches of their suspension will be held in abeyance for a year.
Match Impact and Financial Penalties
The suspension means that both players will miss Equatorial Guinea’s concluding group stage match against Algeria, scheduled for Wednesday at 16:00 GMT. In addition, the country’s football governing body, Feguifut, has incurred a $10,000 fine ($7,435) due to “excessive and abusive protests” from players and technical staff concerning officiating decisions.
The referee’s report highlighted a “deteriorating behavior” from the sidelines coinciding with a crucial own goal scored by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.
Furthermore, Caf has also penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore with a $10,000 fine for “offensive remarks” made during a post-match interview following their 1-0 defeat against Angola in Group E.
Related Topics
- Africa Sport
- Football
Subscribe to GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
