Triumphant Senegal squad awarded Sh10 million, land
The players and staff of the Senegalese national football team have been rewarded with cash, plots of land and state medals for winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
During an official ceremony at the Senegalese presidency to receive the team after their triumph in Cameroon, President Macky Sall announced that each player and members of the technical staff will receive a special bonus of $87000 (about Sh10 million).
In addition, each player and delegation members were also offered two plots of land—one of 200 square-meters in the capital Dakar and another of 500 square-meters in the neighboring city of Diamniadio.
President Sall who had charged the team when they departed for the competition in Cameroon last month to bring home the trophy, also decorated the players and technical staff, raising them to the prestigious rank of Grand Officers of the National Order of the Lion.
During the ceremony, President Sall rejoiced that the team had made the decades-old dream of winning the trophy a reality, saying he lacked words to express the joy, pride and gratitude of the country for the feat.
Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalty shootouts after a barren draw in normal and regulation time in the final of the 33rd edition of the continental championship to win her first ever title.
Liverpool striker Mane scored the winning penalty, rifling in from close to the right angle from the spot to give his side the much needed victory.
Haven now reached the “summit of Africa”, the Senegalese leader called on coach Aliou Cissé to focus on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He told the coach that he was not charging him to win the World Cup, but take the team to the semi-finals of the tournament.
However, to reach Qatar, the Teranga Lions will first have to qualify. This will mean maintaining supremacy when Sadio Mane meet Salah again home and away in the qualify next month.