Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Tuesday congratulated the 'Teranga Lions' on their 'historic' victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final over Morocco. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Dakar to celebrate and welcome the champions. The players and coaching staff paraded on an open-top bus for over seven hours, slowly making their way through the capital amidst huge crowds before arriving at the presidential palace at dusk. During a ceremony in the palace courtyard, President Fay told the players they had shown 'an exceptional fighting spirit, extraordinary resilience, and iron will, which makes your victory historic.' The players were also rewarded. Senegalese forward Sadio Mané, who played a key role in calming the situation during the final, received special praise. 'With Sadio Mané, everything is possible,' the president said, addressing the star player. Mané was the only player who stayed on the pitch and convinced his teammates to return after they protested against a penalty awarded to Morocco. In addition to praise, each player received 75 million CFA francs ($134,000) and a plot of land along the famous 'Petite Corniche' in Senegal. The victory, despite the controversy, was met with widespread jubilation. The crowds showed no signs of distress over the controversy surrounding the team's decision to leave the pitch in stoppage time. After Mané's intervention, the players returned to the field, and Morocco missed the resulting penalty. Ultimately, Senegal's victory was sealed by a brilliant strike from Baba Diop in extra time. Traders, like the players, also benefited from the celebrations. One vendor said that during the tournament, he switched from selling tissues to selling t-shirts, flags, and vuvuzelas. For many Senegalese, this victory was a source of immense pride. 'The Lions made the entire nation proud by beating the hosts in such circumstances,' said one fan. Now, as she added, all that's left is to win the World Cup.
