Nigeria’s afrobeats star Davido among headliners for AFCON 2025 kick-off concert

Nigerian Afrobeat icon Davido has been named as one of the headline performers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opening festivities, according to Soccernet.ng.

​The 2025 AFCON, marking the 35th edition of the prestigious tournament, is scheduled to begin on December 21. A total of 24 teams will compete to be crowned the new kings of the continent.

​The tournament will showcase some of the finest talents in world football. Stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Bryan Mbeumo will all be looking to lead their nations to continental glory.

​To set the stage for the action, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has organized a series of musical performances to entertain fans and build excitement.

Ahead of Sunday’s opening match, CAF announced an elite lineup of artists for the Official Kick-off Concert.

Davido Set To Perform In AFCON 2025 Opening Concert

​Leading the billing is Nigeria’s Davido. Arguably one of the greatest African artists of all time, Davido is no stranger to global sporting stages.

In 2022, he made history as the first African artist to perform at a FIFA World Cup, delivering the theme song “Hayya Hayya” alongside Aisha and Trinidad Cardona.

He also performed at the 2017 AFCON opening ceremony in Gabon and graced the 50th PFA Awards.

​Who is performing alongside Davido?

It’s all about the rhythm. And it starts long before kickoff!

The Offical #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 Kick-Off Concert is set with French Montana, Davido, Douaa Lahyaoui, Says'z, and Lartiste. pic.twitter.com/bsZPe23MHY

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 18, 2025

​In addition to Nigerian superstar Davido, the headline lineup for the 2025 AFCON Kick-off Concert includes French Montana, Douaa Lahyaoui, Says'z, and Lartiste.

​The concert is scheduled for Saturday, running from 6:00 PM (Morocco time) until midnight.

Then the tournament itself will officially begin the following day at 8:00 PM (Nigerian time), with hosts Morocco locking horns with Comoros at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.