Zimbabwe goalkeeper Norman Mapeza has refused to blame goalkeeper Talbert Shumba for his mistake that led to the Warriors 1-0 defeat to Ghana on Tuesday.
The shot-stopper misjudged Thomas Partey’s freekick and didn’t do enough to stop it as the ball sailed over him to hit the back of the net for the Black Stars to achieve the double over Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the match, Mapeza said: “I was a footballer before.
“I used to make mistakes as well but my coach never dropped me out of the team.
“He needs to be encouraged, so, if I am going to drop him because of that mistake, I would be like Judas Iscariot.
“This is football, mistakes are bound to happen, it wasn’t his day, he made that mistake but I am proud of what he did, he never looked down.’’
The result dumped the Warriors out of the qualifiers with two games left in Group G stage. They’re at the bottom of the pool with one point, nine behind leaders South Africa.
Ghana is second with nine points while third-placed Ethiopia are also out of the qualifiers.
The winner in the group will advance to the final round of the qualifying campaign.