National Thunder Duo Issued Multi-Game Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

The National Thunder skipper Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have each been suspended for four games for abusing the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it reviewed the referee's report from the Group E clash on Sunday, a result that sealed the team's exit from the competition.

The referee stated that the two footballers "repeatedly directed abusive and offensive remarks" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"Such comments were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger stemming from the defeat, but nonetheless constitute a grave breach of the standards of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the disciplinary regulations," added the official.

Two matches of the individual suspensions for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a period of one year.

Tournament Consequences

Both players will be unavailable for their nation's final tournament fixture against Algeria on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the nation's football federation has been penalized a sum of ten thousand dollars after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "persistent and abusive complaints" against decisions by the refereeing team.

The match report detailed there was "a steady decline in behaviour on the sidelines" after an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Further Governing Body Action

Elsewhere, the continental body have additionally fined Stallions skipper Bertrand Traore the amount of ten thousand dollars for "offensive remarks" uttered in a post-game interview following his team's 1-0 loss to their Group E rivals.