Dakar — Saturday July 21st, 3:00 in the afternoon and the streets of Dakar are unusually empty. Anyone just arriving in town would think there was a security alert and the place was under curfew.
But it is something far more important. The national soccer team, the Lions, are playing the game of their lives - a victory could - for the first time in their history give them a place in the World Cup finals. Everybody is gathered around their television set watching the two decisive games in their group.
Three hours later, both games are over and the streets offer a whole different scene, full of jubilant people dancing and chanting,"we are going to the world cup!". Hundreds of cars are driving around town full of fans waving the national flag and wearing the jerseys of their favorite players. Everybody is a soccer fan today.
The celebrations went on throughout the week following the qualification. The Lions returned from Windhoek to be decorated by the president but the party continued even once they had each returned to their respective clubs in Europe. In the streets it is the main subject of conversation and there are posters of the players all over town.
It is a dream come true for millions of Lions fans. A few years back, no one would have believed their team could get this far. Most Senegalese had given up on their soccer team after a tring of defeats. They have never got beyond the preliminary phases for the world cup. But this qualification puts them among the best teams in the world.
When asked what made the difference this time around, most people agree that we owe it all to the players. They are national heroes; "this is the best team we have ever had," said one fan, "and Bruno Metsu [the team coach] knew exactly where each player belonged."
Many fans are convinced that with this level of game and this kind of supervision, the team can bring back the world cup. But before Korea/Japan 2002, the Lions will have to prove themselves at the African Cup of Nations in Mali early next next year.
This a trophy they have yet to bring home and many believe it is needed if the image of Senegalese soccer is really to change.
