🔗 Share this article National Thunder Duo Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Official Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations. Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition. The official stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a context of extreme frustration stemming from the loss, but nevertheless represent a grave violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official. Two matches of the respective suspensions for the two players have been deferred for a term of one year. Tournament Consequences The duo will now miss their nation's last group match against Algeria on midweek. Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials. The official documentation detailed there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Additional Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-game interview after his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.
Carlos Akapo will be absent for his nation's final tournament fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been banned for four matches for verbally attacking the referee following their 1-0 defeat by their opponents at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The ruling was made by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the tournament encounter on Sunday, a result that confirmed the team's exit from the competition. The official stated that the two players "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his linesmen following the full-time whistle. "These remarks were delivered in a context of extreme frustration stemming from the loss, but nevertheless represent a grave violation of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the governing rules," noted the official. Two matches of the respective suspensions for the two players have been deferred for a term of one year. Tournament Consequences The duo will now miss their nation's last group match against Algeria on midweek. Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its coaching team and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against decisions by the officials. The official documentation detailed there was "a steady deterioration in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute. Additional Governing Body Measures Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally penalized Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory comments" uttered in a post-game interview after his side's 1-0 loss to Angola.