The team rolled slowly through Dakar in an open-top bus in the afternoon, greeted by the deafening sound of vuvuzelas, car horns and festive chants from tens of thousands of fans, many wearing Senegal jerseys.
Standing atop a double-decker bus, players took turns hoisting the trophy and a Senegalese flag, clapping and waving to the crowd.
Fans climbed atop billboards, car roofs, trucks and trees for a glimpse of the champions, using any vantage point they could find to see the Lions of Teranga.
The players arrived at the international airport outside Dakar early Tuesday morning and were greeted by Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who praised their performance.
"They did it heroically, they played beautiful football, they were incredibly fair and they were exemplary both on and off the field. We can only be proud of them," he said.
The presidents comments were interesting given the Senegal team briefly left the pitch to protest a penalty decision deep into second-half stoppage time.
After the penalty was missed Senegal went on to defeat hosts Morocco with Pape Gueye's extra time goal.
There was also trouble between Senegal fans, stewards and police while Moroccan ballboys had a running battle with Senegal's reserve keeper as he tried to keep them from stealing playing keeper Edouard Mendy's towel during the rain-soaked game.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino called the Senegalese team's decision to walk off "unacceptable" in a statement echoed by the Confederation of African Football.
The Morocco soccer federation — led by one of the most influential officials in world soccer, CAF first vice president and FIFA Council member Fouzi Lekjaa — asked those soccer bodies to rule on the walk off and the events surrounding it.
"This situation has had a significant impact on the normal flow of the match and on the players' performance," the federation said in a statement.
Like many Senegalese fans, Anta Ndiaye was outspoken about the perceived unfairness against her team in Sunday's final.
"Really, the Moroccans didn't respect the Senegalese. We Senegalese do not have any problems," she said.
Bamba Sene, a fan who circled the crowd while carrying the national flag, said: "We are happy today, we are proud to be Senegalese."
21°C