Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph was formally sealed with state honours on Tuesday as head coach Pape Bouna Thiaw and his players were elevated within the National Order of the Lion following their historic victory at AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
At an official reception held on 20 January 2026, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye personally awarded Thiaw the rank of Commander of the National Order of the Lion, recognising his decisive role in guiding the Lions of Teranga to continental glory.
The ceremony, held a day after the final, carried strong national symbolism and reflected the importance of the achievement for Senegalese sport.
Members of the victorious squad, together with the entire technical and coaching staff, were also decorated within the same national order, receiving equivalent distinctions in acknowledgement of their collective contribution to the success.
The honours extended beyond the pitch, underlining the scale of the accomplishment and its resonance across the country.
The president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Abdoulaye Fall, received the highest distinction of the ceremony.
He was elevated to the rank of Grand Cross, the most prestigious honour within the National Order of the Lion, in recognition of his leadership at the head of Senegalese football during a campaign that ended with the trophy being lifted.
The formal tributes were followed by scenes of mass celebration in the capital.
The national team paraded through the streets of Dakar, greeted by overwhelming public enthusiasm.
For almost eight hours, vast crowds lined the route, singing, waving flags and accompanying the players as the country came together to celebrate a victory that has already taken its place in Senegal’s sporting history.
The celebrations reflected more than a single tournament success.
They highlighted the unity between the team and the population, and the sense that the AFCON title represented a shared national achievement.
From the presidential palace to the streets of Dakar, the events of the day underlined how deeply the triumph resonated across Senegal.
With medals bestowed and celebrations completed, the honours marked the closing chapter of Senegal’s AFCON 2025 journey, one that will be remembered both for its sporting achievement and for the national recognition that followed.
