President Biya handed special medals to the players and also warmly congratulated head coach Hugo Broos.
Triumphant Cameroon players and coaches were hosted to a grand reception by President Paul Biya after winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon showed remarkable character to come from behind and beat Egypt 2-1 with goals from Nicolas Nkoulou and Vincent Aboubakar in a brilliant AFCON 2017 final at the Stade de l'Amitie in Libreville on Sunday, February 5.
They returned to Cameroon the next day to a heroes’ welcome and have now been hosted by President Biya.
At the special state reception on Wednesday, February 8, the Indomitable Lions presented the trophy to President Biya at Unity Palace.
At the ceremony, President Biya handed special medals to the players and also warmly congratulated head coach Hugo Broos.
The Indomitable Lions won the AFCON 2017 against all odds after seven first team players withdrew from the squad before the tournament.
The close-knitted squad showed great resilience to go all the way to the final and emerged victoriously.
“This outstanding performance and these excellent victories were only possible because you remained united, close-knit, together, courageous, generous and determined,” the Cameroon president said in his speech at the reception.
“You constitute a block, solid as a rock. You are talented. You love your country and are ready to sacrifice for it. That is what made the difference.
“Like our brave soldiers who, each day at our borders, are ready for the supreme sacrifice to defend our fatherland, you did not hesitate to heed the call to the colours.
“Like them, you are an excellent example, a good inspiration for our People as a whole and, especially, our youth.”
After the reception, they paraded the streets on open-top vehicles through Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon.
The AFCON 2017 title is Cameroon fifth AFCON title second behind Egypt who have seven.
Cameroon will be the host of AFCON 2019.
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