Senegal Fans Celebrate First-Ever AFCON Title Back in Their County As Their President Declares Public Holiday

Senegal Fans Celebrate First-Ever AFCON Title Back in Their County As Their President Declares Public Holiday

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM
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  • Senegal fans went wild with celebrations after their national team emerged winners of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time
  • The Teranga Lions overcame Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out at Sunday's final in Cameroon after both teams failed to break the deadlock in 120minutes.
  • Senegal's President Macky Sall declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the national football team's first-ever Africa Cup of Nations crown

Senegal fans celebrated wildly the country’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations triumph supporters as the Teranga Lions overcame Egypt via penalties.

Sadio Mane who had initially missed a spot-kick during the regulation time was the hero for Senegal as he converted the final penalty to give the West Africans a 4-2 victory.

Senegal Fans Celebrate First Ever AFCON Title Back in Their County As Their President Declares Public Holiday
Senegal Fans celebrated wildly in the country's capital Dakar after winning their first ever AFCON title. Photo by Anadolu Agency
Source: Getty Images

According to The Punch, hundreds of supporters in Senegal jerseys flocked to Independence Square, near the presidential palace in the heart of Dakar, to celebrate.

The square filled with supporters who had come to cheer Senegal to victory vibrated to the sound of car horns, vuvuzelas, whistles and firecrackers.

President Macky Sall has also declared Monday, February 7 as a public holiday to celebrate Senegal winning the AFCON for the first time in their history.

Victorious Senegal team to be honoured by President

Meanwhile, the victorious Senegal AFCON team will be decorated by the country’s President Macky Sall on Tuesday at the presidential palace in Dakar.

According to a report via FRANCE 24, Sall, who had been due to visit Comoros at the end of a trip that took in Egypt and Ethiopia, cancelled the last leg in order to welcome the triumphant Lions on their return to Dakar.

Senegal won the AFCON for the first time after failing on two previous occasions when they got to the final in 2002 and 2019.

2015 AFCON Most Valuable Player Praises Quality of New Champions Senegal

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Christian Atsu is amazed by the quality of the Senegalese team after winning the tournament in Cameroon.

The Teranga Lions defeated Egypt on penalties to win the competition for the first time in the West African country's history.

Atsu, who came close to lifting the title in 2015 with Ghana, took to social media to congratulate Senegal for their triumph.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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