( CNN ) -- Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade called rival Macky Sall to concede Sunday 's runoff election , which Sall hailed as a `` victory of the Senegalese people , '' state media reported . The 85-year-old Wade faced off against his former prime minister and protege after he failed to win a majority during last month 's controversial election . The two survived a field of 14 candidates during the February 27 election , with Wade receiving 32 % of the vote and Sall getting 25 % . Sall garnered support from several of the failed candidates , who vowed solidarity against Wade as he sought a third term . Sunday night , Sall 's supporters gathered at the candidate 's headquarters in Dakar , cheering and dancing to hip-hop songs in the streets . `` We want change because Senegal is poor and Abdoulaye Wade has done nothing , '' said Alpha Ba , 18 , who voted for Sall . `` Today we are proud to be Senegalese . '' With 5.3 million voters registered in the country , early turnout was heavy with large crowds waiting to vote in the capital city . Earlier in the day , the head of the European Union Observer team , Thijs Berman , said voting was going well and there were no signs of fraud . In the first round of voting last month , Wade was booed by much of one crowd at a polling place in Dakar . There were unconfirmed reports that he arranged for supporters to come cheer for him and intimidate opponents Sunday . Local radio reported the supporters were dispersed with tear gas when they attempted to enter the polling place . `` In the first round , the voters here spontaneously booed him and it hurt him , '' said voter Malick Sy . `` They took it upon themselves to mobilize people who do n't have anything to do with this polling place to come and defend him , basically . I do n't think it is a good image for Senegalese democracy . '' However , the incident was thought to be isolated in an otherwise peaceful day of voting . `` Before the first round , there was huge political tension and even casualties , '' Berman said . In the second round , `` the situation is much calmer , '' he said . `` There is still a lot of political tension but there has hardly been any violence . '' Senegal , a small country on Africa 's west coast , has been an outpost of democratic stability in a region with a history of electoral chaos , civil wars and coups . But deadly demonstrations broke out after the country 's highest court cleared Wade to seek a third term in January , and protesters demanded that Wade give up his bid for a new mandate . Opponents argue that the court was compromised and the constitution limits presidents to two terms . But Wade successfully argued that he is exempt because he took office in 2000 , before the term limit was put in place . Wade once was hailed as a visionary , but his popularity has plummeted . Protesters calling for Wade 's ouster have clashed on the streets in recent months . A presidential spokesman has accused opposition candidates and their supporters of fueling `` urban guerrilla warfare '' leading up to the February vote . But Wade 's opponents blamed police for the escalating violence , saying they were responsible for some deaths during demonstrations in Dakar and Rufisque . Journalist Nick Loomis contributed to this report .
NEW : Macky Sall hails the `` victory of the democratic people '' His supporters gather to celebrate at the candidate 's headquarters . Senegal President Wade was seeking a second term . Wade and Abdoulaye Wade survived a field of 14 candidates in a last month election .