National Thunder Pair Handed Multi-Game Suspension for Official Abuse at Africa Cup of Nations.

The National Thunder captain Carlos Akapo and teammate Josete Miranda have both been suspended for four matches for abusing the match official following their narrow loss by Sudan at the 2025 Afcon.

The ruling was made by a disciplinary panel after it examined the referee's report from the tournament clash on Sunday, a result that confirmed the side's elimination from the tournament.

The referee stated that the two footballers "continually uttered abusive and obscene comments" towards him and his linesmen following the final whistle.

"These remarks were made in a atmosphere of extreme anger related to the loss, but nonetheless represent a serious breach of the principles of sportsmanship and fair play as well as the governing rules," added the official.

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

Tournament Consequences

Both players will now miss their nation's last group match against their next opponents on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the country's governing body has been fined a sum of $10,000 after its technical staff and squad members engaged in "excessive and aggressive complaints" against calls by the refereeing team.

The official documentation detailed there was "a steady deterioration in conduct on the sidelines" following an unfortunate deflection by defender Saul Coco in the second half.

Additional Disciplinary Measures

In another incident, the tournament organizers have additionally fined Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore the sum of ten thousand dollars for "offensive comments" made in a post-game media appearance following his team's defeat to their Group E rivals.