The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed disciplinary measures on several players and a team captain during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Equatorial Guinea’s Carlos Akakpo and Josete Miranda each received four‑match suspensions for verbally abusing referee Messie Nkounou after their side’s 1‑0 loss to Sudan in the Group E match in Casablanca. The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation said the bans will be served in two parts: two matches immediately and two matches suspended for one year. Consequently, both players will miss Equatorial Guinea’s final group game against Algeria in Rabat, with the suspensions taking effect on Wednesday.
In a separate case, Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traoré was fined $10,000 by CAF for “offensive remarks” following his team’s 1‑0 defeat to Algeria. The Sunderland‑based forward criticised the officiating, claiming Burkina Faso were denied a clear penalty and accusing the referee of influencing the result. CAF’s disciplinary body ruled that his comments breached the code of conduct. The Burkinabe Football Federation later reported that Traoré expressed regret, accepted responsibility for his remarks, and complied with the sanction.
These actions underscore CAF’s commitment to preserving the integrity and sportsmanship of the tournament. As the 2025 AFCON moves toward the knockout stages, teams must balance competitive drive with respect for referees and opponents. With the group phase nearing its end, fans can anticipate more thrilling matches and dramatic developments in the competition.
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