Ivorian man caught asking for lady's number at AFCON apologies to wife, children

 Anselme Santos leaning over to his female neighbour to ask for her phone number.

This season's AFCON has been a source of immense entertainment, extending beyond the captivating football matches.

The enthusiastic fans have added their flair, filling the stands with vibrant characters. In a noteworthy incident during the match between Cote D’Ivoire and Senegal, a man identified as Anselme Santos from Cote D’Ivoire unintentionally became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons.

Caught on the big screen during post-match celebrations, Anselme found himself making advances towards a visibly uninterested lady.

The video of their interaction quickly spread across the internet, transforming into a widely shared meme due to the lady's dismissive reaction.

An eager Anselme attempted to whisper something in her ear, but she firmly rejected his advances in the brief clip.

In the aftermath, Santos has expressed regret to his wife and children for any embarrassment caused by the viral video.

He acknowledged the inappropriate moment, stating, “In the euphoria, I told her to give her number. It wasn't mean, but she didn't want to. So, I didn't insist. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the lady, my wife, and my children.”

Social media users swiftly responded to the viral video, with one remarking, "you were caught in 3D," while another cynically noted, "You're only apologizing because you were caught; you wouldn't be apologizing if you weren't caught."

Meanwhile, the host nation, Ivory Coast, has successfully advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face off against Mali, aiming to secure their third AFCON title.