Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has declared Monday, 19 January 2026, public holiday to celebrate the national team’s victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, held at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Morocco.
The declaration followed Les Lions de la Teranga’s 1–0 victory over the host nation in the AFCON final, a win that secured Senegal’s second continental title.
Pape Gueye scored the decisive goal in extra time, sealing the West African nation’s triumph and adding to its previous AFCON success in 2021.
Announcing the holiday on Monday, the president described the victory as a “historic triumph for national pride,” noting that it marked Senegal’s second AFCON title in three tournaments.
According to him, the holiday is intended to allow citizens to fully participate in nationwide celebrations and to honour the national team for their remarkable achievement.
He also commended the players for their dedication and resilience throughout the tournament, despite challenges during the final, including referee disputes, a temporary team walk-off, crowd unrest, and the intervention of riot police.
