National Thunder Pair Handed Multi-Game Ban for Referee Verbal Assault at Afcon.

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

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

The official reported that the two players "repeatedly directed insulting and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen after the final whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a context of intense anger related to the loss, but nonetheless represent a serious breach of the principles of respect and fair play as well as the governing rules," noted the official.

A portion of the individual bans for Akapo and Miranda have been deferred for a term of one calendar year.

Immediate Consequences

The duo will now miss their nation's last group match against Algeria on Wednesday.

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

The official documentation indicated there was "a progressive deterioration in conduct on the sidelines" after an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the 74th minute.

Additional Governing Body Measures

Elsewhere, the continental body have also fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the amount of $10,000 for "offensive comments" made in a post-game interview after his team's defeat to Angola.