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AFCON 2025 Kicks Off in Style as Davido, French Montana Light Up Opening Ceremony in Rabat

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1 day ago

4:29 am

AFCON 2025 Kicks Off in Style as Davido, French Montana Light Up Opening Ceremony in Rabat

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was officially unveiled at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, with a vibrant and high-energy opening ceremony that celebrated African culture, unity and football on Sunday.

Despite steady rainfall, the spectacle dazzled fans with a captivating blend of music, dance, visual effects and pyrotechnics, creating a memorable start to the continent’s biggest football festival.

Nigerian music superstar Davido and Moroccan-American rapper French Montana headlined the ceremony, appearing in coordinated maroon outfits that complemented the event’s colour theme. The duo were joined on stage by renowned producer RedOne and hundreds of performers, who created stunning visual mosaics representing Africa’s 54 nations encircling the iconic AFCON trophy.

The ceremony marked Davido’s return to the AFCON stage for the first time since 2017, a moment that generated widespread excitement among Nigerian fans. Social media platforms were flooded with celebratory reactions, as supporters expressed pride in the Afrobeats star’s continued global recognition. Fellow Nigerian artistes, including Olamide, also shared clips from the performance in solidarity and support.

The vibrant opening show seamlessly transitioned into competitive action, as hosts Morocco defeated Comoros 2–0 in the tournament’s opening match. The victory underlined the Atlas Lions’ determination to make a strong statement on home soil as they chase continental glory.

Major Global Football Events Davido Has Performed At

2017 – Africa Cup of Nations Opening Ceremony

2022 – FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony

2023 – PFA Awards, United Kingdom

2025 – Africa Cup of Nations Opening Ceremony

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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