Thousands of fans brought Dakar to a standstill Tuesday as the African champions, Senegal’s national football team, returned home from Morocco, earning a hero’s welcome after their dramatic 1-0 victory over hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Lions of Teranga were paraded through the capital in an open-top bus for over seven hours, waving the trophy to euphoric supporters who chanted, danced, and blew vuvuzelas along the streets. Multitudes climbed on cars, billboards, and buildings just to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, and senior government officials greeted the team at the presidential palace, where the players received personal congratulations and cash rewards of 75 million CFA francs each, along with parcels of land along Senegal’s Petite Côte.
In his address, President Faye hailed the squad for their “exceptional fighting spirit, extraordinary resilience, and iron will,” calling their triumph over Morocco in a tense final “historic.” He also praised star forward Sadio Mane for his leadership on the pitch, particularly his role in persuading teammates to return after a late-game protest over a penalty decision.
The celebrations came despite the controversy in Rabat, where Senegal briefly left the field. Fans remained undeterred, filling the capital with music, fireworks, and patriotic fervour. Street vendors quickly adapted, selling jerseys, flags, and vuvuzelas as Dakar became a city-wide festival celebrating Senegal’s second AFCON title in four years.
