It was a sweet victory for Senegal after two previous final defeats in 2002 and 2019

Dakar exploded with joy at the final whistle as Sadio Mane’s Senegal beat Mohamed Salah’s Egypt for their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations crown.

“African champions. What a game! What a team! You did it. A beautiful moment of football, a beautiful moment of communion and national pride. Congratulations to our heroes,” Senegalese President Macky Sall tweeted after the Lions’ win Sunday night.

Sall declared Monday a national holiday to celebrate the “brilliant victory”, public television announced.