AFCON 2025: Equatorial Guinea Players Banned, Burkina Faso Captain Fined for Referee Insults

Two Equatorial Guinea players, Carlo Akakpo and Joset Miranda, have been banned for verbally abusing a referee during the AFCON 2025 tournament. Akakpo and Miranda received suspensions for offensive language towards the referee Messi Nkounou during their team's 1-0 defeat to Sudan.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traor was fined $10,000 by CAF for criticizing the referee following their 1-0 loss to Algeria. Traor's comments were deemed offensive, violating the code of conduct.

The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation confirmed the bans, with Akakpo and Miranda serving immediate suspensions and facing further matches on hold.