The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) officially kicked off on Sunday in Morocco with a spectacular opening ceremony headlined by Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
The ceremony took place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat moments before the hosts, Morocco, faced Comoros in the tournament’s opening match. Davido shared the stage with international music stars French Montana and RedOne in the ceremony’s flagship performance, titled Le Show.
Widely regarded as one of the most visually impressive opening ceremonies in AFCON history, Le Show blended music, light, movement and symbolism in a carefully choreographed display created for a global television audience. The performance highlighted Africa’s cultural richness while projecting the tournament’s message beyond the continent.
Davido was featured as one of Africa’s most influential contemporary artists. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Nigerian singer has played a major role in taking African music to global stages, with a sound rooted in celebration, confidence and continental pride — qualities CAF says reflect the spirit of the Africa Cup of Nations.
French Montana, who was born in Morocco and raised in the United States, represented a cultural link between Africa and the global music scene. His appearance underscored Morocco’s role as host and its position as a bridge between Africa and the wider world.
Completing the trio was RedOne, the Moroccan-born producer whose work has shaped international pop music across continents. His participation highlighted Africa’s behind-the-scenes creative influence and its impact on global sound and production.
CAF described Le Show as a dynamic visual narrative, with the three artists converging at centre stage amid pulsating lights, drums and digital displays. The performance was designed to reflect unity, diversity and movement — themes central to the message of AFCON 2025.
The opening ceremony marked the start of a month-long tournament featuring 24 national teams competing across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Agadir. With nine stadiums in use and Morocco hosting the finals for the first time since 1988, AFCON 2025 is being positioned as one of the most ambitious editions of the competition, blending elite football with large-scale cultural storytelling.
