Fans crowd the roads around the Dakar airport waiting for the Senegal team to return in triumph
DAKAR, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of jubilant fans packed the streets of Senegal’s capital Dakar to welcome the national squad home after its Africa Cup of Nations win.
Led by Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Senegal overcame Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s final in Cameroon. The game had finished goalless after extra time.
The victory marked Senegal’s first in the tournament, and sparked celebrations across the West African country’s capital on Sunday evening.
President Macky Sall declared a public holiday to celebrate the victory.
On Monday, tens of thousands of lively supporters gathered near an airport in Dakar to welcome the Senegalese squad home.
Large crowds of supporters also gathered in other parts of the city, singing songs and waving flags.
Sounds of fireworks, horns and cheers rang through the night in Dakar and into Monday morning, when hundreds of people wearing soccer jerseys or draped in Senegalese flags gathered outside the airport to await their team’s return.
Senegalese dance music echoed from loudspeakers over the crowd of adoring fans as the team stepped out of the plane to a hero’s welcome. Roads surrounding the airport flowed with a river of supporters as long as the eye could see.
Fans arrived by bicycles, motorbikes, cars and on foot, bringing the otherwise busy highways to a joyous standstill. Among them were government officials and opposition politicians, celebrating the country’s victory together as one.
Sall was at the airport to greet the team, who are then due parade through city. — NNN-AGENCIES