AFCON champs Algeria returned to hero's welcome

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Algeria arrived home on Saturday to a hero's welcome from a huge crowd of joyful supporters and a "water salute" for their plane at Algiers airport.

"One, two, three, viva Algeria!" tens of thousands of flag-waving fans lining the road from the airport chanted.

An early strike earned a 1-0 victory over Senegal in Friday's final in Cairo, propelling Algeria, known as the Fennec foxes, to a first Cup of Nations title in 29 years.

The players, with winner's medals around their necks and captain Mahrez hoisting the cup in the air, were given a red carpet welcome at the airport and greeted by Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.

Their bus was decorated with two stars, marking their second African Cup triumph, and emblazoned with the words "We are proud of you" in Arabic and Amazigh, or Berber, the North African country's two official languages.