Balancing on the roof of the bus which moves slowly in the middle of a huge and loving crowd, Abdou Diallo brandishes the cup in his right hand. Alongside the PSG player, partners from the Senegal selection, such as Sadio Mané, author of the decisive shot on goal, immortalized the moment with their mobile phone.
The party was expected, announced. It took place but well beyond what was imagined. This Monday, the day after the victory of the “Lions of Teranga” against Egypt in the CAN final after 55 years of famine, an entire country welcomed its champions, its heroes. This Monday in the sun is a day they will never forget.
From the morning, after a sleepless night of celebration, a veritable human tide spread through the streets of Dakar. Tens, hundreds of thousands of euphoric people crowded hours in advance around the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor airport, where the new champions landed at the end of the afternoon. Then a noisy and joyful stream accompanied the coach of champions, cutting through the crowd under the protection of officers on horseback.
A huge crowd accompanied the bus of African champions (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP) AFP or licensors
Throughout the city a clamor of songs, whistles and horns arose for hours and into the night, interspersed with the deafening detonations of firecrackers and the flashes of fireworks. A large part of the population, dressed in green, gold and red, obviously wanted not to miss the party. Some supporters played acrobats to climb to the top of trees, billboards or huge metal structures so as not to miss any of the spectacle.
Senegalese President Macky Sall holds the coveted trophy between coach Aliou Cissé (left) and Kalidou Koulibaly. Reuters/Zohra Bensemra
Decreed a “public holiday, non-working and paid” by President Macky Sall, this Monday had the appearance of a national holiday in which every Senegalese seemed to participate. The head of state, who had canceled an official visit to the Comoros to welcome the team when they got off the plane, posed with the cup in the middle of coach Aliou Cissé and the players. After the parade, the champions were expected in the evening at the presidential palace. They will receive high national distinctions this Tuesday. But in the meantime the night promised to be beautiful and long under the stars of Dakar.
