Senegal president Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced substantial cash bonuses and plots of coastal land for the national football team after their Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Morocco.
The pledges were made during a ceremony in the capital, where thousands of supporters gathered to welcome home the Lions of Teranga following their triumph.
Senegal secured the title with a 1–0 win after extra time against tournament hosts Morocco. The final took a dramatic turn late in normal time when Senegal briefly left the pitch after a penalty was awarded against them deep into stoppage time. The players returned after discussions, Morocco missed the spot kick, and Pape Gueye then scored the decisive goal four minutes into extra time.
Earlier on Tuesday, the squad toured Dakar on an open-top bus bearing the words “African champions”, travelling along the corniche towards the presidential palace as fans lined the streets.
Each of the 28 players will receive a bonus of 75 million CFA francs, the equivalent of more than Tk.1.48 crore, taking the total payout to around Tk.40.7 crore. Every player will also be awarded a 1,500 square-metre plot of land.
Faye said members of Senegal’s football federation would receive 50 million CFA francs, around Tk.99 lakh, and 1,000 square-metre plots. Members of the Senegalese delegation to Morocco will be given 20 million CFA francs, approximately Tk.40 lakh, along with 500 square-metre plots. Sports ministry staff are set to share bonuses totalling 305 million CFA francs, about Tk.6 crore.
“Dear Lions, you have honoured the flag entrusted to you. You have honoured Senegal,” Faye said while addressing the crowd outside the presidential palace. “You have shown by example that when Senegalese people move forward together with discipline and confidence, no challenge is beyond their reach.”
The scale of the rewards comes at a challenging moment for Senegal’s economy. The International Monetary Fund has said the country’s debt reached 132 per cent of GDP at the end of 2024, after the current administration uncovered billions of dollars in previously unreported liabilities. The IMF has since frozen a $1.8 billion lending programme, forcing Senegal to rely more heavily on regional debt markets, although a new IMF mission chief arrived in the country this week for an introductory visit.
Senegal last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021, when players received bonuses of 50 million CFA francs and 200 square-metre plots of land. In December, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe said the winners of the 2025 tournament in Morocco would receive $10 million in prize money.
