The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) officially kicked off on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in Morocco with a dazzling opening ceremony that blended music, culture and spectacle, setting the tone for Africa’s biggest football tournament.
Held moments before the hosts opening match victory over Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the ceremony featured global music stars French Montana, Davido and RedOne as headline performers. Their joint performance, titled “Le Show”, served as the centrepiece of the night and was crafted to captivate a worldwide television audience.
The opening display stood out as one of the most visually impressive in AFCON history, combining powerful lighting effects, rhythmic movement, live music and symbolic storytelling. It was designed not only to entertain but also to reflect Africa’s diversity, unity and growing influence on the global stage.
French Montana, who was born in Morocco and raised in the United States, brought a strong sense of diaspora identity to the ceremony. As one of the most prominent African born figures in global hip hop, his appearance highlighted Morocco’s role as both host nation and cultural bridge between Africa and the rest of the world.
Davido followed as one of Africa’s most influential modern music stars. The Nigerian Afrobeats icon represents a generation that has pushed African sound to international prominence. His presence captured the celebratory spirit and confidence that CAF associates with the Africa Cup of Nations.
Completing the trio was RedOne, the Moroccan born producer whose work has shaped global pop music across continents. His inclusion underlined Africa’s creative impact behind the scenes and reinforced the connection between African talent and international audiences.
“Le Show” unfolded as a tightly choreographed visual narrative, with the three artists sharing the stage amid pulsating lights, traditional drums and digital displays. The performance symbolised movement, connection and shared identity, themes that run through AFCON 2025.
Beyond football, the opening ceremony delivered a strong cultural message, projecting African creativity, pride and ambition to millions of viewers around the world.
The ceremony marked the beginning of a month long tournament that will run until January 18, featuring 24 national teams competing across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Agadir.
With nine stadiums in use and Morocco hosting the finals for the first time since 1988, AFCON 2025 is shaping up as one of the most ambitious editions ever, combining elite competition with rich cultural storytelling on a continental scale.
