Hundreds of thousands of fans flooded the streets of Senegal’s capital on Tuesday to welcome home the Lions of Teranga after their dramatic 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final victory over hosts Morocco.
The celebratory parade lasted over seven hours, ending at the presidential palace where President Bassirou Diomaye Faye praised the team’s “extraordinary resilience.”
This victory marks Senegal’s second AFCON title in four years.
A chaotic final in Rabat saw Senegal briefly storm off the pitch in protest of a Moroccan penalty. Sadio Mané convinced the team to return; the penalty was saved, and Pape Gueye scored the winning goal in extra time.
President Faye awarded each player 75 million CFA francs ($134,000) and a parcel of land on the coveted Petite Côte.
The President specifically lauded Mané’s role as a peacemaker during the high-tension final.
Despite a formal complaint filed by the Moroccan FA regarding the match’s disruptions, the mood in Dakar remained electric. Fans celebrated what many hope is a precursor to a deep run in the next World Cup.
