Burna Boy to Headline AFCON 2025 Fan Zone Finale in Rabat, Morocco

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian music star Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, globally known as Burna Boy, has been announced as the headline performer for the final TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Fan Zone concert, scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco.

The announcement was officially made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) through a post shared on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday night. CAF described the event as the grand conclusion of the tournament’s fan engagement activities, hinting at a memorable night of music and celebration.

According to the football governing body, the finale concert will feature a powerful lineup of African music stars, with Burna Boy leading the performance list alongside Stormy, Stonebwoy, and Jaylann. CAF captioned the announcement with the words: “One last show. One MASSIVE lineup.”

The concert, popularly referred to as “The AFCON Last Dance,” is set to hold on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone in Rabat. The event will officially commence at 8:00 p.m. local time, bringing together football fans and music lovers for a final celebration of African culture, sport, and entertainment.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament kicked off on December 21, 2025, and has consistently blended football with music throughout its duration. Musical performances have been featured prominently at several official events linked to the competition, reinforcing CAF’s commitment to showcasing African creativity beyond the pitch.

The opening ceremony, which also took place in Rabat, saw Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido (David Adeleke) share the stage with international acts French Montana and RedOne. Their collaborative performance, titled Le Show, thrilled fans shortly before Morocco faced Comoros in the tournament’s opening match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Speaking on Davido’s involvement, CAF praised the Nigerian singer for his global influence, noting that his sound represents joy, self-belief, and African pride—qualities the organization believes align closely with the identity of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The announcement of the AFCON finale concert comes shortly after Nigeria’s exit from the tournament. The Super Eagles were eliminated by host nation Morocco following a dramatic semi-final clash that ended goalless after 120 minutes. Morocco eventually secured victory with a 4–2 penalty shootout win in Rabat.

Although Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved one spot kick, missed penalties from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved costly. Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri converted the decisive penalty to send the hosts into the final.

Morocco will now face Senegal in the AFCON final on Sunday, January 18, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Nigeria will contest the third-place playoff against Egypt on Saturday, January 17, at the Mohammed V Stadium, starting at 11:00 a.m. ET.

As Morocco pursues its first AFCON title since 1976, African music continues to gain international recognition through artistes who have performed on some of the world’s biggest stages.

Over the years, Nigerian performers such as Wizkid, Rema, Tiwa Savage, CKay, and Patoranking have represented Africa at major global events, reinforcing the continent’s growing influence in the entertainment industry.

Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, made history on July 29, 2023, by becoming the first African artiste to headline a concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, performing before an audience of approximately 45,000 fans. Earlier that same year, he also achieved another milestone by headlining the Glastonbury Festival, one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious music events.

Similarly, Tiwa Savage has marked her presence on several high-profile platforms. In 2023, she became the only Nigerian artiste invited to perform at the coronation concert of King Charles III, an appearance she later described as unforgettable.

Another global breakthrough came from Rema, who gained international acclaim after performing his hit song Calm Down at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in France on October 30, 2023, making him the first Nigerian artiste to grace the renowned football awards event.

Singer CKay also left a strong impression when he performed at the closing ceremony of the 2023 African Nations Championship in Algiers, Algeria, entertaining over 40,000 fans at the Nelson Mandela Stadium with chart-topping tracks including Love Nwantiti and Emiliana.

With Burna Boy set to headline the AFCON Fan Zone finale, the connection between African football and global music culture continues to grow, reinforcing Africa’s presence on the world stage through sound, sport, and shared identity.