Senegal declares national holiday as President Sall receives Mane, team mates today
Senegal’s public television, RTS, announced on Monday that President Macky Sall has declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the national football team’s first ever African Cup of Nations crown following their victory against Egypt.
Sall cancelled some official trips in order to welcome the triumphant Lions on their return to Dakar at 1300 GMT Monday, RTS said.
Led by Liverpool star Sadio Mane, Senegal overcame Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out at Sunday’s final in Cameroon. The game had finished goalless after extra time.
After two previous final defeats in 2002 and 2019, Senegal finally claimed their first Cup of Nations title.
“The president of the republic declared Monday a public holiday, a paid day off, following the brilliant victory of the Lions,” RTS said, citing a presidential decree.
Senegal claimed their first Africa Cup of Nations title in a penalty shoot-out over seven-time winners Egypt Sunday night.
Yes, they waited a long time their its history, but Senegal also spent a lot of time on the lawn of the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé.
Senegal dominated without scoring a goal, with a penalty missed by Sadio Mané in the 4th minute of play, Saliou Ciss having been brought down in the penalty area of Egypt.
Yet, it was still Mane who stepped up to make history for the West African nation in Cameroon’s Olembe Stadium, scoring the penalty that secured his team’s 4-2 victory in the penalty shoot-out.
The victory banished memories of the team’s 2019 failure when they lost the final to Algeria, and was greeted with celebrations in Dakar. Thousands took to the streets. Crowds hugged and cried. Dozens ran onto a beach in a northern suburb, screaming to the night sky. People waved flags from the sunroofs of speeding cars.
Share your thoughts on the story Senegal declares national holiday as President Sall receives Mane, team mates today OnlineNews in the comments section.
