Star player Sadio Mane scored the winning penalty to secure the victory for Senegal 4-2 on penalties, after they drew 0-0 with Egypt in the play-off in Yaounde the night before, Reuters reported.
It was a much-anticipated victory for the West African nation that fell to Algeria in the last Nations Cup final in 2019.
Senegal also reached the final stage of the tournament in 2002, but lost to Cameroon on penalties.
Fireworks, trumpets and chants rang out all night in Dakar and into Monday morning, when hundreds of people in soccer jerseys or in Senegalese flags gathered outside the airport to wait for their team to return.
“We’ve been losing these matches for a long time. I’ve been watching the team since the seventies, waiting,” said Thierno Nyan, a 60-year-old computer programmer who came from the outskirts of Dakar hours ago to cheer on the team.
“Last night I was crying in front of my family – my wife and children,” he added.
Senegalese dance music reverberated from loudspeakers over a crowd of adoring fans as the team stepped off the plane to greet the champions. The roads around the airport were flowing with a river of supporters for as long as the eye could see.
Fans arrived by bike, motorbike, and car on foot, bringing busy highways to a standstill. They included government officials and opposition politicians who celebrated the country’s victory as a single entity.
“We are very happy and proud of our lions,” said supporter Amina Cisse. “Our dreams came true.”