I misjudged the ball, sorry Khune admits

Itumeleng Khune has apologised for his error in Bafana Bafana's 3-1 loss to Mauritania on Saturday, the goalkeeper saying the swerve on the ball caught him off guard.

Five minutes into the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Nouakchott, Khune spilled Aly Abeid's free-kick into this own net and the nightmare continued as Siyabonga Zulu was sent off, with the visitors conceding two more in the second half of the Group M clash.

"I have been in this game for long and I have never made such a mistake. The Adidas ball swerves a lot and the distance was far, but I won't fault anyone. It was just me misjudging the ball. When the ball was coming to me I did not know whether to go with my hand or put the body behind it because it was moving away from me," Khune said.

"I tried to do what a goalkeeper does, which is to be in line with the ball. It should not have beaten a goalkeeper of my calibre and I take the blame. I apologise to the team and I apologise to the nation."

He later said: "It's difficult to go home and explain because already we see on social platforms the people are swearing at the players without understanding."

Bafana did bounce back after the early setback with a goal from Thamsanqa Gabuza the second half. But the Mauritanians scored two more to seal the victory.