Senegal arrived house on Monday after successful the Africa Cup of Nations, to lots of of hundreds of ecstatic and chanting followers, AFP journalists noticed.
Massive crowds of supporters descended on a navy airport within the West African nation’s capital Dakar, blowing vuvuzelas and waving flags, to have a good time the victory.
President Macky Sall was ready on the airport to greet the returning gamers, who then paraded via thronged streets sitting on prime of a bus, on their strategy to the presidential palace.
Led by Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Senegal overcame Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out in Sunday’s remaining in Cameroon. The recreation had completed goalless after additional time.
The victory marked Senegal’s first success within the event, and sparked jubilant celebrations throughout the capital metropolis of three million individuals on Sunday night which continued on Monday.
The authorities had declared Monday a public vacation as a way to have a good time the event.
“This is an unforgettable second that can final without end,” said Die Mbaye, a 17-year-old school student near the presidential palace, who was scarcely audible above the shouts of supporters.
Sporting a Senegal jersey, and with a flag sticking from her hair, Mbaye added: “We deserved it, we have been waiting for 60 years.”
Mamadou Bocoum, a 24-year-old scholar standing close by, was equally enthusiastic. “Our life goes to vary,” he told AFP.
Such an intense outpouring of emotion has not been seen for years in Senegal, a Muslim-majority nation of 17 million people that is better known for its reserved culture.
‘Ferocious’
Senegal have competed in the Africa Cup of Nations for over fifty years and have reached the final twice — but The Lions of Teranga never clinched the ultimate prize until Sunday.
Africa’s top-ranked national team and 20th in the world lost the last Cup of Nations final in 2019, falling 1-0 to Algeria in Cairo.
They also lost the 2002 final on penalties to Cameroon, a few months before becoming one of just three African teams to reach a World Cup quarter-final.
“It’s the best day of my life,” Mane stated after successful.
“I’m residing a dream. I can’t consider it. The wait was lengthy however lastly we did it. We are all completely satisfied and proud to win this trophy.”
The victory comes as welcome respite in Senegal, which suffered pandemic-related economic woes and where lethal riots linked to political tensions rocked the country last year.
On Monday, crowds of celebrating supporters began to gather on the streets of Dakar hours ahead of the national team landing at the airport.
President Sall cancelled a trip to the archipelago nation of the Comoros in order to greet the team at the airport.
The 60-year-old president also invited his staunch political opponents to the welcome ceremony.
“There are times when you leave aside problems to talk about the common cause of the country,” he stated in a speech after the staff touched down.
Sall additionally hailed the Senegalese squad as “ferocious”.
“Now you are at the summit of Africa,” he stated.
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