Back from Rabat after their continental coronation against Morocco, the Lions of Teranga were received on Tuesday at the presidential palace by the Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. At the end of a triumphal parade which animated the streets of Dakar all day long, the president praised the exemplarity African champions, distinguished players and managers, and shared the pride of a nation gathered around its second star.

Visibly moved, the President of the Republic, who had invited all components of Senegalese society to the ceremony, paid tribute to the “courage, determination and exemplarity” of the team national. According to him, the Teranga Lions have “raised the colors of Senegal and restored faith and pride to an entire nation”, at the end of a memorable final won on Sunday in Rabat.

The Head of State wanted to salute Sadio in particular. Mané, an emblematic figure of Senegalese football. “Sadio Mané came in through his work, his consistency and his exemplarity in the closed circle of legends of national and African football. In this final, you showed what means to be a leader,” said Bassirou Diomaye Faye under the applause.

During this historic reception, important distinctions were awarded to the actors of the coronation. Each player received a bonus of 75 million CFA francs as well as a plot of 1,500 m² on the Petite Côte. The members of the delegation benefited from a plot of 1,000 m² and an envelope of 50 million FCFA, while the others guides received 500 m² and 20 million FCFA. The Ministry of Sports was also allocated a global envelope of FCFA 305 million for its agents.

Highlight of the ceremony, President Diomaye Faye proceeded to the solemn decoration of the champions. The national coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, as well as the 28 players invited to the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, were elevated to the rank of Commander in The National Order of the Lion. The president of the Senegalese Federation of soccer, Abdoulaye Fall, was for his part elevated to the rank of Grand Officer.

“Dear Gaindé, thank you for this second star on the National jersey”, welcomed the Head of State, who also returned tribute to Aïda Faye, a Senegalese student who died on January 3 in a traffic accident in Morocco. The president finally expressed, “on behalf of Senegalese people”, his gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and to the people Moroccan for the welcome given to the Senegalese delegation, while congratulating the Moroccan national team for its remarkable career.