Minibuses and cars packed with cheering supporters edged their way forwards, nobody in any rush to get anywhere.
Expatriates in luxury cars tooted in support.
On Avenue Ponty, the city's main thoroughfare, supporters wearing replica team shirts waded confidently into the traffic, almost taking over from care-worn traffic police.
The celebrations were for everyone.
On the Place de L'Independance, two severely handicapped friends, one from Ghana, the other Senegalese, broke off from requesting money to salute the Lions.
On Avenue Ponty, vendors' normal sales patter was littered with growing references to the Lions of Teranga.
'Flag-time'
"Want to see these?"
Watch-seller Gaby Seck ignored his usual wares, pointing instead to the pictures of football stars hung around his neck.
"Khalilou Fadiga, El Hadj Diouf, Henri Camara. These are the Lions and they are going to bring back the cup."
"I closed my business today", said Khadim Diop.
"I wasn't going to stick at home. I wanted to come down town and be part of all this."
"It's flag time now", said Moustapha Diop, pushing his wares at passers by.
"For you 1,000 francs. This is the thing that is really selling here."
But it's not just flags.
Since the World Cup began, fans of all ages have been sporting headscarves and ribbons, bracelets and T-shirts, shorts and earrings.
Pride of place goes to the red, green and yellow "boubous", long gowns with accompanying trousers.
'Hot cake'
El Hadj Niang, a fisherman and trade unionist from Hann Plage on the other side of Dakar, looked on approvingly as Ponty celebrated.
"Our boats all carry the national colours", he said.
"The fishermen went out last night and came home at three o'clock this morning so they could follow the match. A wonderful day."
"No studying today", said 18-year-old student Marty Sabara. "We are going to party."
"And it's great about the French", she added pointedly.
"They said Senegal was like a cake they could just go and eat. Well, we put some hot pepper in that cake."
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