Mohammed Anas: Footballer went viral for thanking ‘wife and girlfriend’ in 2017 interview

Mohammed Anas isn’t a particularly big name in the world of football but the Ghanaian striker still knows what it feels like to go viral on social media.

Unfortunately for Anas, who has spent his entire career to date playing in South Africa, the reason he went viral wasn’t for scoring a Puskas Award contender or for another feat of individual brilliance on the football pitch.

Instead, Anas inadvertently found internet fame in March 2017 after thanking both his ‘wife and girlfriend’ in an incredibly awkward interview that quickly spread across social media like wildlife.

Post-match interviews are often dull but Anas, who’d just scored two goals for Free State Stars against Ajax Cape Town, well and truly put his foot in it during his Man of the Match speech.

“Thank you very much for giving me this,” Anas said. “And I appreciate my fans also. My wife and my girlfriend…”

It was at this precise moment Anas knew he was in big trouble.

Trying to dig his way out of an increasingly deep hole, Anas continued: “I mean my wife, sorry to say. Listen! I love you so much! I love you so much, from my heart.”

Watch the classic interview here:

Unfortunately for Anas, the interview was broadcast live, meaning there was no chance of starting again from scratch.

After the clip went viral, Anas conducted an interview with BBC News in an attempt to clear things up.

But if anything, he only made things worse.

"My family knows that I call my daughter my girlfriend. That's what I was talking about. I don't have a girlfriend," Anas insisted.

On his wife of seven years at the time, he continued: "I love her so much. She's given me two beautiful children. She is fine. She knows what kind of man I am so I am not worried.”

He was also surprised how