Senegal's anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye appeared early Monday to be closing in on victory in the country's presidential poll.

At least seven of the presidential contenders congratulated Faye in light of initial indications from the ongoing vote count.

The only woman candidate, Anta Babacar Ngom, posted on X that; "Congratulations to Bassirou Diomaye Faye on his unquestionable victory."

Whoever comes out on top would be tasked with rulling Senegal, as the election followed several years of unrest and a political crisis, while the governing coalition said it was certain of a second-round vote.

Official results of the election are expected before the end of the week and an absolute majority is required for a first-round win.

Opposition candidate Faye had promised voters profound change and a presidential programme of left-wing pan-Africanism.

According to provisional results from individual polling stations published by local media and on social networks, showed that he appeared ahead of the governing coalition's former prime minister, Amadou Ba.