Wild dance steps, cries of joy, horn blasts, detonations of fireworks: the Senegalese capital Dakar and its outskirts were in turmoil on Sunday evening, with hundreds of thousands of supporters in the streets after the 1-0 victory in Rabat for the Lions of Teranga in the CAN final against Morocco, host country of the competition.
The city and its vast outskirts exploded with joy after the final whistle of the match which saw Senegal win 1-0 thanks to a goal from Pape Gueye in extra time. This is Senegal’s second coronation, after that won in 2022, in Cameroon, but also the third final contested by the Senegalese in the last four editions.
In sports outfits and displaying radiant smiles, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko left the Palace of the Republic to meet supporters who had gathered in front of the venue. “The joy is indescribable,” declared the Senegalese president. “We went through all the emotions.”
The much-anticipated welcome for players
He added that Monday would be “non-working and paid” so that the Senegalese could benefit from this moment of communion of an entire country. He predicted a “warm welcome” to the Senegal team upon their return from Morocco. “We saw patriots and men of duty on the ground,” he also said. They fought for our honor and our dignity, it is a victory for all the Senegalese people. »
This moment of rejoicing and immense joy is one of the few that the country has experienced in recent years, which between 2021 and 2024 experienced serious political unrest that left dozens of people dead. Senegal is also currently facing a very difficult economic and social situation.
Scenes of jubilation multiplied in the capital where hundreds of thousands of supporters took to the streets to celebrate this coronation in a deafening atmosphere, in the middle of the omnipresent flags of Senegal, hung on buildings, on vehicles, on the arteries and sidewalks of the capital.
The atmosphere was indescribable on the Place de la Nation where a huge fan zone has been set up since the start of the tournament. The place vibrated to the sound of car horns, vuvuzelas, whistles, cries of joy, firecrackers and fireworks, songs in praise of the selection.
“I thought my heart was going to break”
A similar atmosphere also reigned at the Renaissance Monument, a monumental statue in the area of the Mamelles district which dominates Dakar, at the foot of which was also installed a fan zone with several hundred supporters. Enthusiastic Senegalese sang, danced or hugged each other in the middle of the crowd.
Shirtless and barefoot, Issa Diouf, 23, traveled around fifteen kilometers, despite the coolness of January in Dakar and the wind, to reach Independence Square, where hundreds of people flocked to celebrate the victory with great joy.
“I’m so happy, I’ve dreamed of this victory for a long time. Morocco tried to resist but Senegal was stronger,” he exults, a headband in the green, gold and red colors of Senegal surrounding his head.
Senegal jersey on her back, Maïmouna Sow still can’t believe this victory in this match marked by an ocean of confusion and electrical tension which could have pushed it into chaos.
Like many supporters, she says she went through all the emotions: from tears after the penalty whistled in favor of Morocco in added time of the second half… to immense joy after Pape Gueye’s goal (1-0, 94th). “I thought my heart was going to break. I have never felt such strong emotions,” she confided.
