Thousands attend Senegal's victory parade honouring AFCON champions

Tens of thousands of Senegal football fans lined the streets of Dakar on Tuesday as the Lions of Teranga held a victory parade to celebrate their triumph in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco.

The players and coaches brandished their trophy from an open-top bus which inched its way through immense crowds across the capital, winding towards the country's presidential palace.

As the players travelled the final stretch of their journey along the city's oceanside highway, the Corniche, fans walked and sometimes ran alongside the bus, with throngs of people lining the sidewalks.

Senegal's president congratulated the Lions of Teranga for their "historic" victory in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, after tens of thousands of football fans crowded the streets of Dakar for a celebratory homecoming parade.

In a ceremony on the grounds, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye told the players they had "demonstrated exceptional fighting spirit, extraordinary resilience, and an iron will, and that is what makes your victory historic".

Downtown was overcome by a fever pitch of almost deafening noise -- revving engines, horns, vuvuzelas and shouting -- as the players neared the palace, where they will be officially received.

Thousands had gathered at the parade's starting point in Patte d'Oie, a working-class neighbourhood across town, wearing team jerseys, chanting, whistling, and blowing vuvuzelas.

All along the route, old and young, men and women turned out decked in the country's green, yellow, and red colours, sometimes watching on from buildings and bridges, or even climbing on top of cars and billboards.

Security forces were also present in large numbers, including anti-riot police.

The Senegal team made its way across the capital after arriving on a special flight from Morocco shortly before midnight on Monday, where they were greeted by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and other members of the government.

Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations when they beat hosts Morocco 1-0 in a chaotic final in Rabat on Sunday that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game.

"I wouldn't have missed this moment for the world," said 26-year-old fan Doudou Thiam from the parade's sidelines in the Bourguiba neighbourhood, wearing a Senegal jersey.

"The Lions are our pride and they deserve all the honours. Even if it meant staying here all day, I would have done it", he said.

The win marked Senegal's second title, after their 2022 victory over Egypt in Cameroon. It was the team's third final in just the last four editions.