MOROCCO will open the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a major musical concert, with French Montana and Davido leading a high-profile line-up of pop stars at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone in Rabat tomorrow.
The tournament will begin on Sunday and end on January 18, with 24 national teams, including the Super Eagles of Nigeria, participating.
“CAF, TotalEnergies and the Kingdom of Morocco have unveiled what is described as one of the most ambitious entertainment programmes ever staged alongside the tournament, turning the build-up to AFCON 2025 into a continental celebration of music, culture and football,” the Confederation of African Football said in a statement.
“The concert, which begins at 18:00 local time, brings together some of the biggest names in African and international music, including Moroccan rising star Douaa Lahyaoui, the rapidly emerging Says’z and the hugely popular Lartiste.
“Organisers say the line-up reflects their aim of promoting African unity, creativity and youth, one day before the continent’s biggest sporting event kicks off.
“Before a ball is kicked at AFCON 2025, Morocco intends to showcase its cultural energy through a mixture of urban sounds, Afrobeats, pop and traditional influences.
“The Rabat show is positioned as the signature event of the opening weekend, designed to bring fans together from across Africa and beyond.”
CAF describes Nigerian star Davido as ‘the face of Afrobeats on the world stage’, adding: “One of Africa’s most influential modern artists, he has shaped the rise of Afrobeats internationally through acclaimed albums A Good Time, A Better Time and Timeless.
“With worldwide tours, hundreds of millions of streams and accolades from the MTV Africa Music Awards, BET Awards and the Headies, Davido’s presence underscores the continental pride Morocco hopes to project at AFCON 2025.”
The continental body highlighted French Montana’s Moroccan roots, writing: “French Montana, the US-based rapper born in Morocco, will headline the show in what organisers describe as a symbolic homecoming.
“The artist has built a massive global following with chart-topping albums such as Excuse My French and Jungle Rules, and international hits including Unforgettable, which has earned billions of streams.
“A regular presence at major award ceremonies such as the BET Awards and Billboard Music Awards, French Montana brings global visibility to the opening celebrations and is expected to deliver one of the most high-profile performances of the evening.”