Football may be the main event at the Africa Cup of Nations, but music is setting the tone.
On Saturday, 20 December, Rabat, Morocco, will host the official AFCON 2025 Kick-Off Concert at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone, and the headliners alone tell you this isn’t a warm-up act. Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido and Moroccan-American global rapper French Montana will lead a star-studded lineup that turns the tournament’s opening weekend into a full-blown continental celebration.
Yes, before defenders start misplacing passes and fans start calculating qualification permutations, Africa will first dance. 
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Why This Concert Is a Big Deal
CAF, Total Energies, and the Kingdom of Morocco have described this as one of the most ambitious entertainment programmes ever staged alongside AFCON. This means it isn’t “music while you wait for kickoff.” This is AFCON saying, we’re bringing culture and pride to the fore of the conversation.
The AFCON 2025 concert runs from 6:00 pm to midnight local time, and entry is free for fans with Fan IDs or match tickets.
The idea is simple: unite football, music, and identity in one space. Honestly, nothing says “African unity” better than Afrobeats, hip-hop, pop, and local sounds on one stage.
Davido: AFCON 2025 Kick-Off Concert Certified Party Starter
Davido’s inclusion feels almost inevitable. When big moments need big energy, his name tends to come up first.
From ‘A Good Time’ to ‘A Better Time,’ ‘Timeless’ and ‘5ive,’ Davido has become one of the most recognisable African artists globally. He has performed at the 2017 AFCON opening ceremony, appeared at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar, and somehow still finds time to remind everyone he’s not new to this.
At AFCON 2025, he represents more than star power. He represents Afrobeats’ global takeover and the confidence that African music belongs on the world’s biggest stages, football included.
Expect hits, crowd control, and at least one moment where the entire fan zone forgets which country they’re supporting.
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French Montana’s Homecoming Moment
Then there’s French Montana, whose appearance comes with symbolism baked in. Born in Morocco and raised in the US, the rapper’s return for AFCON is being framed as a cultural homecoming.
With chart-topping albums like ‘Excuse My French’ and ‘Jungle Rules,’ and global hits such as ‘Unforgettable,’ French Montana brings international visibility and a bridge between African roots and global stardom. His presence reinforces AFCON’s evolving identity.
Also, let’s be honest: hearing French Montana perform in Morocco, ahead of Africa’s biggest football tournament, just feels right.
Local Stars and New Voices AFCON 2025 Kick-Off Concert
The lineup doesn’t stop at the headliners. Moroccan singer Douaa Lahyaoui, rising artist Says’z, and Franco-Moroccan hitmaker Lartiste round out the bill, ensuring the concert isn’t just imported star power.
Douaa Lahyaoui represents Morocco’s new generation of pop and urban talent. Says’z brings youthful, high-energy sounds shaped by digital culture. Lartiste, known for blending languages and genres, embodies the cultural fusion AFCON wants to spotlight.
Together, the lineup presents a mix of global icons, continental heavyweights, and local voices sharing one stage.
More Than Music, Less Than Just Football
AFCON 2025 hasn’t even kicked off yet, and already the tournament is doing what it does best: reminding everyone that African football is never just about football. It’s about our sound, style, pride, chaos, joy, and moments that live far beyond the final scoreline.
By the time the opening match begins on Sunday, fans in Rabat and across the continent will already have memories and videos from dancing.
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