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Celebrations proceed within the West African nation of Senegal following the nation’s first finals victory on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The win was a very long time coming for the Teranga Lions, who suffered two earlier AFCON ultimate defeats in 2019 and 2002.
Their achievement has introduced smiles to the faces of 1000’s of Senegalese followers, with President Macky Sall declaring Monday a public vacation in order that celebrations may proceed.
Public broadcaster RTS stated Sall had cancelled the final leg of a diplomatic journey so as to greet the crew on Tuesday on the presidential palace in Dakar after they return from host nation Cameroon.
He congratulated the Lions in a tweet, saying: “What a sport! What a crew! You probably did it. Stunning second of soccer, lovely second of communion and nationwide pleasure. Congratulations to our heroes!”
DW correspondent Robert Ade stated celebrations continued all through the night time in Dakar, with the streets full of jubilant supporters regardless of ongoing COVID-19 measures.
“The get together continues in houses, bars and eating places till the early morning in defiance of the barrier measures towards the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stated.
A younger supporter of the Teranga Lions advised DW that the AFCON win “brings us numerous pleasure.”
“I’m very proud of this crew as a result of they received the cup for us,” he stated. “We solely wanted the cup.”
“Now we have dreamed of it for years,” one other supporter advised DW. “It is a profitable [AFCON], particularly for us champions.”
College students on the Cheikh Anta Diop College nervously watch the AFCON ultimate from Senegal’s capital Dakar
First style of AFCON success
Liverpool winger Sadio Mane grew to become Senegal’s hero on Sunday night time, scoring the profitable penalty handy his crew a 4 — 2 victory over Egypt in Yaounde.
The AFCON match was scheduled in the course of European membership season, sparking uproar as a whole bunch of gamers departed their golf equipment to characterize their international locations on the continent.
Mane advised reporters the victory marked not simply an important trophy of his life, however an important day of his life.
“I’m dwelling a dream,” he stated. “I am unable to imagine it. The wait was lengthy, however lastly we did it. We’re all completely happy and proud to win this trophy.”
Though he was annoyed after lacking a penalty in the course of the sport, he thanked his teammates for supporting him and protecting his spirits up all through the nail-biter.
“You understand what made the distinction after I missed the primary penalty? All my teammates got here as much as me and stated: ‘Who cares, we’re a crew, we win collectively and we lose collectively.'”
Sadio Mane was earmarked as one among Senegal’s gamers to look at within the lead-up to AFCON
An extended wait involves an finish
Supporter Mariam advised DW in Dakar that the Senegalese folks “are actually happy with our crew. We did our greatest and we received.”
“We’re proud to be Senegalese,” she added. “As we speak is get together, tomorrow is get together. We’ll have fun this all yr!”
After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal not often certified for AFCON earlier than rising as a robust soccer power in 2002, that includes now-head coach Aliou Cisse.
However even this new, stronger aspect endured loads of heartbreaks. Cisse — who was additionally then the crew’s captain — was one of many gamers to overlook a penalty on the 2002 AFCON ultimate towards Cameroon. Just some months later, Senegal grew to become the second African crew ever to succeed in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup.
Senegal gamers throw head coach and former captain Aliou Cisse into the air following their victory
Following a profession enjoying for English golf equipment Birmingham Metropolis and Portsmouth, Cisse took over as Senegal’s head coach in 2015.
“It simply exhibits that should you work onerous, should you persevere, you’ll get what you need,” he advised reporters after the match.
“I’m very emotional as a result of the folks of Senegal have needed this trophy for 60 years.”
Winger Mane devoted the win to Cisse.
“The Senegalese folks have suffered loads, however I dedicate this trophy to Aliou Cisse,” he stated.
“You’ll be able to’t start to grasp what he has dropped at Senegalese soccer. He deserves every little thing.”
Edited by: Ineke Mules
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