National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and fellow squad member Josete Miranda have each been banned for four games for verbally attacking the referee following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The decision was handed down by a disciplinary panel after it examined the official's match report from the tournament encounter on the weekend, a loss that confirmed the side's elimination from the competition.

The referee stated that the two players "continually uttered abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his assistants after the final whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of intense anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless constitute a grave violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official.

A portion of the individual bans for the two players have been deferred for a period of one year.

Tournament Consequences

The duo will now miss their team's final tournament fixture against Algeria on midweek.

Meanwhile, the country's football federation has been fined a amount of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and abusive protests" against calls by the refereeing team.

The official documentation detailed there was "a steady decline in conduct on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Governing Body Measures

Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his side's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.