MAMELODI Sundowns winger Elias Pelembe was reportedly hospitalised for a night with emotional fatigue after squandering a penalty kick that effectively cost Mozambique a chance of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The botched spot-kick continued to dominate the media in Maputo after the weekend loss to Zambia.

Pelembe had his effort early in the second half saved by his club mate Kennedy Mweene before Zambia went on to snatch a 1-0 victory and a place at next year's finals in Equatorial Guinea.

Maputo newspapers said Pelembe had been admitted to hospital after the loss with fever and exhaustion, drained by the mental blow of missing out in front of 42000 expectant fans at the Zimpeto Stadium.

"The golden boy spent the night [Saturday] in a city hospital with high fevers and ill health, morally very shaken," reported Folha de Maputo

The fallout over Mozambique's elimination from the qualifiers continued yesterday with a stinging comment from the state-owned Noticias newspaper, which is the country's main journal.

It said of the player's weeping at the end of the match: "Why cry so much if you're going to engage in the cowardly act of suicide? Any team that misses that many opportunities, including a penalty, cannot expect to qualify for a tournament as big as the Nations Cup.

"The Zambian goalkeeper showed he was a true cat between the goals. Our 'boy wonder' fired his kick but had it stopped and after that there was silence. Nobody could believe such disgrace," the newspaper added.

"I apologise to the people of Mozambique for the result and as head of the technical team take full responsibility," said coach Joao Chissano.