An Ivorian football enthusiast named Anselme Santos has issued an apology to his wife and children following his apparent ‘flirting’ with a young woman during Cote D’Ivoire’s Round of 16 match against Senegal.
During the intense AFCON game, Santos diverted his attention from the stadium celebrations to engage in conversation with a young lady beside him.
According to Actu Foot, Santos acknowledged his lapse in judgment and expressed regret for any disrespect towards his family, as reported by Vanguard.
“In the euphoria, I told her ‘give your 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,” Santos stated, as quoted by Actu Foot.
In a surprising turn of events, Cote D’Ivoire eliminated defending champions Senegal in a dramatic Round of 16 match that ended 1-1 (aet) and concluded with a 5-4 victory in penalties.
The host country advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face tournament sensation Cape Verde.
Kessie emerged as the shootout hero, securing the decisive kick after Senegal’s Moussa Niakhate hit the post with the third penalty.
Senegal, the reigning champions, became the seventh consecutive titleholder to suffer an early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, failing to defend their title beyond the round of 16.
Despite a recent 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea and a coaching change, support for the host nation remained strong, with fans lining up overnight to purchase tickets in the central city.
The west African clash featured Senegal, topping Group D with three wins, against Cote D’Ivoire, who advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams despite a goal difference disadvantage.
