CAN 2022: scenes of jubilation in Dakar after the victory of Senegal, which declared this Monday “holiday, non-working and paid”

The Dakar erupted with joy on Sunday evening after the closing whistle blew at the final of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Yaounde, where Sadio Mane’s Lions beat Mohamed Salah’s Pharaohs of Egypt on goal.

“Champions of Africa. What a game ! What a team! You did it. A wonderful moment of football, a wonderful moment of communication and national pride. Congratulations to our heroes,” Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted.

President Sall declared Monday a “holiday, non-working and paid day” after the national team’s “brilliant victory” in Canada, public television reported Sunday evening. Mr Sall, who was due to be away from Senegal until 9 February for various visits to Egypt, Ethiopia and Comoros, has “cancelled” this latest leg in order to “welcome the national selection on Monday at 13:00 (GMT and local time) at Joffa military airport. (Dakar), according to the same source.

Crowded Independence Square

The players and members of the national team’s management will be “rewarded” by Mr. Sall at the presidential palace in Dakar on Tuesday. There was a huge buzz on Sunday night when star Sadio Mane scored to give Senegal a penalty shootout victory (0-0, 4-2). Hundreds of supporters wearing Senegalese T-shirts gathered at Independence Square near the Presidential Palace in the administrative and business center of Dakar.

The police erected barriers to prevent the crowd pouring into the square from approaching the palace. The place vibrated with the sounds of car horns, vuvuzelas, whistles, cheers, firecrackers that sometimes lit up the sky, dances and songs praising the choice.

A festive atmosphere spread throughout the city of Dakar and its suburbs, with Senegalese flags hanging on buildings, vehicles, arteries and sidewalks in several neighborhoods.

The atmosphere was crazy at the Renaissance Monument, a monumental statue overlooking Dakar from the Mamelles district, at the foot of which a fan zone with several dozen people had been set up.

People hugged each other among the fires after the penalty shootout. “I’m happy. This is the happiest day of my life,” Modu Ba, who introduced himself as a 25-year-old car wash worker, told AFP.

” The best day in my life “

“We’ve waited a long time. (The Cup) is finally here (in Senegal). We really need this,” says Seydou Nourou Diop, a 27-year-old accountant. Student Khadim Law, 21, says he is “very proud of our Lions. This is an exceptional phenomenon.” At the foot of the monument, supporters then left the fan zone and went outside, some standing on cars, including pickup trucks, mingling with the crowd emerging from their homes to demonstrate.

However, the joy manifested itself after a while, after the main 120 minutes. Sadness showed on their faces when Sadio Mane missed a penalty in the 7th minute. “He (Sadio Mane) shouldn’t miss the penalty. A great player does not miss the finals. This is unacceptable,” said Pape Mbaye, a 24-year-old driver.

During the penalty shootout, fans turned away from the screen. One of them, squatting down, even shed tears. As the Egyptian marksman hit the post and then missed another, he was stopped by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and the faces of the fans, holding hands, relaxed.

Before Liverpool star Sadio Mane converted the late shot that took Senegal to the top of African football for the first time after two final defeats in 2002 against Cameroon and Sadio Mane’s 2019 against Algeria.

And we’re off to a long night of partying in Dakar…