Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy says they stayed on the bus for seven hours while parading their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title in Dakar.
The Teranga Lions defeated record winners Egypt on penalties to win their first-ever Afcon title on February 6 after two previous final heartbreaks.
To honour the the historic feet, Senegal President Macky Sall declared a national holiday to celebrate the occasion with millions of Senegalese pouring out on the streets to join the parade.
Describing the event, the 29-year-old disclosed the atmosphere during the celebrations cannot be compared to their first World Cup participation in 2002 when they reached the quarterfinals.
“Obviously, I feel really good. I am super happy first to be back with one more trophy and to join the team for the big tournament we have,” the goalkeeper of the tournament said in an interview on Chelsea’s YouTube channel.
“I think I can’t describe what we feel. It’s an amazing achievement for my teammates, for me, and for our families. For the country, it is a first time we won this trophy. It’s amazing.
I think everyone knows how the national team feels for me, to win this trophy for the first time in the history of my country, it’s a big achievement.
When asked if he has seen the kind of crowd parading the streets of Dakar, Mendy said: “No, I swear, nothing. We talk about it with our teammates I think even the first World Cup in 2002, It was not the same atmosphere, it was not the same energy, it’s amazing.
“One million people on the streets, it was phenomenal. We stayed in the bus for seven hours but obviously I was so happy to see the kids, the parents, everyone on the streets to celebrate us, it was amazing.”
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