Africa’s biggest football party is set to kick off with a heavy musical statement as Afrobeats megastar Davido and American rap icon French Montana have been unveiled as headline acts for the opening concert of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The curtain-raiser concert will take place in Rabat, Morocco, just before the first match of the tournament, officially launching a month-long celebration that blends football, culture and entertainment on a global scale.
Davido’s inclusion brings instant star power to the occasion. Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential music exports, the Nigerian hitmaker is expected to thrill fans with a high-energy set packed with some of his biggest international records.
His performance is set to underline Afrobeats’ growing dominance on the world stage.
Joining him on stage is French Montana, whose presence adds a strong global hip-hop flavour to the opening night.
The collaboration between African and American stars reflects AFCON’s expanding international appeal and its push to connect African football with global pop culture.
Designed as more than just a concert, the opening show aims to spotlight Africa’s creative excellence, merging music, sport, and cultural expression for millions of viewers worldwide ahead of the tournament’s kickoff.
Morocco, hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1988, appears determined to make a bold statement. The choice of Rabat for the opener signals the country’s intent to deliver an opening ceremony that matches the prestige and scale of Africa’s biggest football competition.
The concert will take place on Saturday at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone in Rabat, running from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Entry will be free for fans with valid Fan IDs and match tickets, giving supporters the perfect build-up to the start of the tournament.
Morocco 🇲🇦 Saturday ! @CAF_Online pic.twitter.com/SJ6P6U5Rgm
— Davido (@davido) December 18, 2025
Davido’s AFCON appearance adds to an already impressive list of performances at major sporting events.
In recent years, he has graced global stages, including the 2017 AFCON opening ceremony, the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw in Doha, the 2023 PFA Awards, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar. Earlier in 2025, he also performed at Nigeria’s National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.
On the football side, AFCON 2025 officially kicks off on Sunday, with the host nation, Morocco, facing the Comoros in the opening match in Rabat. Group-stage fixtures will roll on from the following day as the tournament gathers momentum.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have arrived in Fes, where they will play all their group matches against Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, following the completion of a four-day training camp in Cairo.
With football, music, and culture converging from day one, AFCON 2025 is shaping up to be a festival in every sense of the word.