National Thunder Pair Issued Four-Match Ban for Referee Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.

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

The ruling was handed down by a governing body committee after it examined the referee's report from the Group E encounter on the weekend, a loss that confirmed the team's elimination from the tournament.

The official reported that the two footballers "repeatedly directed abusive and obscene remarks" towards him and his assistants following the final whistle.

"Such comments were delivered in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the defeat, but nevertheless represent a grave breach of the principles of respect and conduct as well as the disciplinary regulations," noted the official.

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

Immediate Impact

The duo will be unavailable for their team's final tournament fixture against their next opponents on midweek.

In a related development, the country's football federation has been penalized a amount of ten thousand dollars after its coaching team and players engaged in "persistent and aggressive protests" against decisions by the officials.

The match report indicated there was "a progressive decline in behaviour on the touchline" after an own goal by Equatorial Guinea defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Further Disciplinary Action

Elsewhere, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of $10,000 for "inflammatory remarks" uttered in a post-match media appearance following his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.