AFCON: Senegal fans celebrate into the night as Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy & Co parade trophy

Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy & Co received a hero’s welcome as the Senegal stars returned home following their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Cameroon.

The tournament favourites held their nerve to defeat Egypt 4-2 on penalties in Sunday’s final, with Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool team-mate Mane scoring the winning penalty.

The Senegalese population have yearned for their first AFCON, having fallen at the final hurdle in 2002 and 2019, with manager Aliou Cisse under huge pressure to deliver this year.

Thousands of fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their heroes after their big victory

People climbed high on billboards and rooftops to get the best view of Sadio Mane & Co

Senegal players don ‘Champions of Africa’ t-shirts along with their medals to bask in their win

Liverpool star Sadio Mane (L) poses with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (R) on the bus

And the playing squad were welcomed home to jubilant scenes as supporters lined the streets of Dakar to celebrate their triumph, after Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, declared a public holiday on February 7, 2022 to toast their victory.

Cisse’s side paid Sall a visit at his presidential palace upon their return, and then took a bus through the city to flaunt their new trophy, with fans surrounding the vehicle to catch a glimpse of their heroes.

Police used horses in an effort to control the crowd, with incredible images showing fans climbing high to get the best view of Africa’s new kings.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy shared footage of the wild scenes on Instagram, as celebrations continued into the night with fans dancing, jumping and waving flags on Monday night. 

Senegal supporters wait ahead of the football team’s arrival after winning this year’s AFCON

Fans waited outside the military airport in Dakar, Senegal, in anticipation of the team’s return

It was a party atmosphere in Dakar with the nation’s long wait for their first AFCON finally over

A Senegal supporter poses for a photograph while draped in his country’s flag on Monday

People wait outside of the presidential palace after the team visited President Macky Sall

Senegal captain and Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly singled Mendy out for praise after their victory. The Blues stopper saved a penalty to help his side to victory, and the skipper labelled his team-mate the best goalkeeper in the world. 

He said: ‘It was a tough game and a tough tournament. We made it with our team and our power.

‘Our goalkeeper is the best in the world and we win the title. We feel happy. We knew it would be hard to win the Africa Cup of Nations but today we made it.

‘Our team deserved to win this title. We had been looking for this for a long time and now we have it. This team is magnificent.’

Mane had missed a spot kick in the first half but made amends with the winning penalty, hammering his attempt low and hard into the bottom left corner. 

The Senegal team prepare to set off after touching down at the military airport on Monday

Captain Kalidou Koulibaly carries the trophy off the plane after arriving back from Cameroon

Senegal held their nerve to defeat Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win their first ever African title

The Liverpool star revealed that support from his team-mates helped him bounce back from that disappointment. 

‘When I missed the first penalty, it was a big blow for me,’ he said.

‘But my team-mates came to me and said, “Sadio, we lose together and we win together. We know you. You have done too much for us – keep on going.”

‘That made me stronger and I think it made the difference when I got the second one.

‘All the boys came to me and said, “Sadio, we trust you”, and that gave me more motivation.

‘The trophy belongs to the whole Senegal team – everyone deserves it.’