Senegal, which had welcomed the return of the Teranga Lions on Monday with a real human tide in the streets of the capital, paid a more official and less massive tribute to the champions, received at the presidential palace on Tuesday.
The Head of State, in front of several thousand people, expressed how much Captain Kalidou Koulibaly's team had fulfilled the expectation of a nation that vibrates for football and put an end to the frustration of entire generations.
"We dreamed of the cup, you built this dream and you made it come true. Finally, here is the African Cup of Nations in football," he said.
"You have honored the nation, in return the nation you are so proud of owes you honors," he said.
Objective "semi-final" at the World Cup
The players and the members of the delegation will receive a bonus of 50 million CFA francs each, a considerable sum by Senegalese standards, a plot of 200 square meters in Dakar, and another of 500 square meters in the new town of Diamniadio, including development is dear to the Head of State.
Sadio Mané, rewarded with coach Aliou Cissé with special praise from the president, capsized a whole country of happiness on Sunday by scoring the decisive shot on goal against Egypt in the CAN final.
Senegal, a stronghold of African football, the continent's first in the FIFA rankings and a major supplier of talent abroad, dreams of other glorious tomorrows.
Senegal players explode with joy after beating Egypt on penalties in the CAN final in Yaoundé, February 6, 2022 Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP / Archives
Macky Sall, who had set the goal for the coach and the players to return with the title before their departure for the CAN in Cameroon, turned his eyes to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year: "Aliou , I'm not asking you to win the World Cup but a place in the semi-finals," he said.
Senegal will first have to qualify.
This will go through a barrage at the end of March, again against Egypt.
© 2022 AFP