The Lions of Teranga won the 2025 AFCON after a tense match against Morocco, the host country of the competition. Upon their return to Senegal, the African champions were welcomed by the President of the Republic and AYO, the official mascot of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
They kept their promise. The Lions returned with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, just as they had pledged. To reward their flawless performance during the competition, Pape Thiaw's men, now African champions, were welcomed at Blaise Diagne International Airport by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and several other officials.
AYO, the official mascot of the 4th Youth Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Dakar from 31 October to 13 November, was also there to welcome the champions, including captain Kalidou Koulibaly, ambassador for the Dakar 2026 YOG.
Mission accomplished
During the competition, the Senegalese team showed confidence, as evidenced by the decisive role played by Sadio Mané, who was unflappable and clearly ‘on a mission’ to win.
The Lions approached each match with seriousness and control. Pape Thiaw's men formed a close-knit unit, embodied by leaders capable of turning matches around, such as Idrissa Gana Gueye. The Lions of Teranga, led by Kalidou Koulibaly, remained true to their reputation as a difficult – if not impossible – team to beat and mentally strong.
A championship title after a nail-biting finish
The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was played in an electric atmosphere: facing Morocco, the host country and tournament favourites, the Lions of Teranga had to resist and keep their cool despite pressure from the crowd and controversial decisions.
The match, which remained uncertain for a long time, was decided by the Senegalese team's ability to never give in to the adversity of the Atlas Lions. Showing unwavering composure, much like Édouard Mendy, who defended the goal with authority and calm throughout the competition, conceding only two goals in the entire tournament, Senegal finally clinched victory (1-0) thanks to a winning goal scored by Pape Gueye in the 94th minute.
