South Africa striker Katlego Mphela was arrested for drunk driving in an upscale Johannesburg neighborhood, police spokesman Col. Lungelo Dlamini said Tuesday.
Mphela, who scored the winning goal against Egypt on Saturday in an African Cup of Nations qualifier, was arrested early Monday after celebrating the win, according to Glyn Binkin, the player's manager.
Mphela was driving from a late-night snack when police pulled him over for a routine stop, Binkin said.
''He's obviously disappointed about what transpired, but he also believed he was under the limit or he would not have taken the irresponsible action of driving when he didn't feel he was able to drive,'' Binkin told The Associated Press.
Mphela acted drunk when they pulled him over at about 5 a.m., so police brought him to the station for four hours until he was sober enough to be released, Dlamini said.
Mphela scored three minutes into injury time to give South Africa a 1-0 win over Egypt on Saturday. Mphela will appear in court in October.
In February 2010, South Africa captain Steven Pienaar was arrested in Britain after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol following Everton's 3-1 win over Manchester United. He pleaded guilty and was banned from driving for 12 months.
Another South Africa international, defender Bryce Moon, faces drunk driving and culpable homicide charges after the car he was driving struck and killed a female pedestrian in 2009. The accident happened in Sandton - the same Johannesburg suburb as Mphela's arrest.
Charges against the 24-year-old right back were initially dropped but then reinstated in January. Moon's case will go to trial in June.
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AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray contributed to this report.
