By Anamati Inyang
December 22, 2025
The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations officially kicked off on Sunday in Morocco with a dazzling opening ceremony in Rabat, as global music stars Davido, French Montana and RedOne lit up the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ahead of the tournament’s opening match.
Moments before hosts Morocco faced Comoros, the trio delivered the ceremony’s flagship performance, titled Le Show, setting the tone for what organizers have described as one of the most ambitious editions of the Africa Cup of Nations in history.
Blending music, light, movement and symbolism, the performance was crafted for a worldwide television audience, projecting African creativity and cultural confidence far beyond the stadium and the continent.
Three artists!
French Montana, born in Morocco, raised in the United States, brought a global hip hop influence rooted in African diaspora identity.
As one of the most recognizable African born artists on the international rap scene, his appearance reflected Morocco’s role as host nation and a cultural bridge between Africa and the wider world.
Davido, one of Africa’s most influential contemporary musicians, represented the continent’s modern sound.
The Nigerian Afrobeats superstar has played a major role in taking African music to global stages, with a style associated with celebration, self belief and continental pride.
Completing the trio was RedOne, the Moroccan born producer whose work has shaped global pop music across multiple continents.
His inclusion highlighted Africa’s creative influence behind the scenes, linking African identity with international audiences through sound and production.
A performance designed for a global audience
Le Show unfolded as a high energy visual narrative, with the three artists converging at centre stage amid pulsating lights, traditional drums and digital displays.
The carefully choreographed performance emphasized unity, diversity.
Beyond football, the opening ceremony served as a cultural statement, showcasing Africa’s artistic strength, confidence to millions of viewers across the world.
A month of football across Morocco; the ceremony marked the start of a month long tournament running until January 18, featuring 24 national teams competing across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Agadir, with nine stadia in use.
With Morocco hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1988, AFCON 2025 is being framed as a landmark edition, combining elite football with rich cultural storytelling on a continental scale.
As the first ball is kicked, Africa’s biggest football celebration begins not only with competition and goals, but with music, identity and a message designed to resonate far beyond the pitch.
