African champions Habib Diallo and Pape Matar Sarr are set to be formally honoured by their hometown of Thiès after the city’s mayor announced they will receive the prestigious “Medal of the City of Thiès”.
The decision follows Senegal’s triumph at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a victory that elevated the two Thiès-born players to national hero status and prompted local authorities to recognise their contribution beyond the football pitch.
Mayor Babacar Diop confirmed that the city would move to award both players one of its highest civic distinctions, a medal that has previously been bestowed on only one other athlete.
Speaking during a ceremony attended by Habib Diallo and members of his family, the mayor underlined the symbolic importance of their achievement for the city.
“ Beyond being the ambassador of an entire nation, of an entire people, you are also the ambassador of an entire city.
On behalf of the people of Thiès and the Thiès municipal council, we congratulate you and pray that you will continue to perform well in your club and national team (…) At the next municipal council meeting, we will initiate the procedure to award you the medal of the city of Thiès …” he declared.
The honour reflects the pride felt in Thiès, a city that has long played a role in Senegalese sport and culture, and now finds itself represented at the very top of African football.
Diallo and Sarr’s success with the national team has been widely celebrated locally, with residents viewing their journey as a source of inspiration for young athletes across the region.
During the event, Habib Diallo, who currently plays for FC Metz, presented his Africa Cup of Nations winner’s medal to the mayor in a gesture symbolising the bond between the players and their hometown.
In return, the municipal authorities presented the striker with a commemorative trophy featuring a lion and a baobab tree, two enduring symbols of Senegalese identity, strength and resilience.
Pape Matar Sarr, who also hails from Thiès, is expected to be similarly honoured as the city completes the formal process required to grant the medal.
The distinction is intended not only as recognition of sporting excellence, but also as acknowledgment of the players’ role as representatives of Thiès on the continental and global stage.
With Senegal celebrating a second continental title, the planned ceremony serves as a reminder that major sporting achievements often resonate far beyond the national spotlight, carrying deep meaning for local communities proud to see their own succeed at the highest level.
