The President of Senegal, Bassirou-Diomaye Faye, rewarded the players of his national team, the "Lions of Teranga," with a payment of 75 million CFA francs (approximately $134,900) and the delivery of land to each one for achieving their second Africa Cup of Nations title this Sunday in Morocco, a victory that has unleashed euphoria in the country. "I have given each Lion present 75 million CFA francs," the president stated last night from the Palace of the Republic, specifying that they will also receive 1,500 square meter plots of land in the Petite-Cote (Little Coast, in French), a popular area on the Senegalese coast south of the capital, Dakar. According to local media, Faye also announced cash prizes and smaller plots of land for the leaders of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and all members of the delegation his country sent to the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as a total of 305 million CFA francs for the Ministry of Sports (nearly half a million dollars). Furthermore, the national coach, Pape Thiaw, and the rest of the team were decorated in a solemn ceremony with the rank of Commander of the National Order of the Lion, Senegal's highest distinction.

The president received the players after they paraded through the streets of Dakar to present their trophy to thousands of citizens, on a route that included the Patte d'Oie (Goose Foot) neighborhood, a central point of the city and a common site for massive processions.

On an open-top bus decorated with the national colors—green, red, and yellow—the captain of the national team, Sadio Mane, and his teammates celebrated endlessly, surrounded by the cheers of their compatriots, while fans sang and danced to the beat of traditional drums.

The champions arrived in Dakar in the early hours of Monday, where Faye welcomed them at the airport and stated that they performed with “heroism” and “played beautiful football.”Senegal was crowned champion of the Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco (1-0) in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, in a match that bordered on scandal, with the Senegalese players threatening to walk off the pitch, initiated by Thiaw, in protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time (95th minute). It was Mane who convinced them to return to the field. Brahim Diaz took the penalty in Panenka style, which was saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and in extra time, a goal by Pape Gueye gave the Lions of Teranga the victory. In a match that kept Africa and fans outside the continent on the edge of their seats, the Senegalese team won the second continental trophy in their history and extended their rival's more than half-century-long drought.