How a Nigerian Superstar Earned Recognition at Football’s Grandest Global Moments
From the roaring crowds of Africa’s biggest football tournament to the unmatched global spotlight of the FIFA World Cup and the elite inner circles of English football, Davido’s career has grown beyond music charts into the cultural heart of world sport. His appearances at major football events are not accidental bookings but clear acknowledgements of his influence, reach, and ability to connect diverse audiences through sound, energy, and identity.
Across nearly a decade, Davido has consistently been trusted with football’s most visible stages. Being a lifelong football fan and a supporter of Manchester United, it’s a no-brainer as to how and why this fusion comes very organic for him. Each appearance reflects a different phase of his journey, from continental dominance to full global recognition.
2017 AFCON Opening Ceremony
Davido’s first major football stage came at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations opening ceremony in Gabon. At the time, he was already one of Africa’s most influential hitmakers, with songs that dominated radio, clubs, and street playlists across the continent. His inclusion in the opening ceremony was a celebration of modern African sound and its connection to the passion of African football.
The performance captured the spirit of AFCON as a tournament rooted in pride, rhythm, and shared identity. Davido’s presence signaled a generational shift where Afrobeats was no longer just background entertainment but a central part of how Africa presents itself to the world. It was a defining cultural moment that set the tone for his future involvement in football’s biggest events.
2022 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar marked a historic milestone in Davido’s career. Performing at the closing ceremony of the World Cup final placed him on the biggest sporting stage on earth, watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Davido featured as one of the lead artists on the official World Cup soundtrack Hayya Hayya Better Together, a song that blended African, Middle Eastern, and Western influences into a truly global anthem. His appearance at the closing ceremony went beyond performance value. It represented a moment where Nigerian music took center stage at football’s ultimate global celebration.
This moment was also deeply symbolic on a personal level. Coming after a challenging period in his life, Davido’s World Cup performance was widely viewed as a statement of resilience, strength, and renewal. Standing under the lights of Lusail Stadium, he represented not just himself but the growing global respect for African artistry.
2023 PFA Awards United Kingdom
In 2023, Davido’s relationship with football culture expanded into the professional heart of English football at the Professional Footballers’ Association Awards in the United Kingdom. The PFA Awards are one of the most respected events in football, attended by the game’s elite players and decision makers.
Davido made history as the first African artist to perform at the ceremony. His performance was a clear sign of how deeply African music has become woven into football culture, particularly in the United Kingdom where many players openly embrace Afrobeats. The reception from players and fans highlighted how Davido’s sound resonates beyond borders, languages, and leagues.
This appearance reinforced his role not just as a performer but as a cultural bridge between African music and global football spaces.
2025 AFCON Opening Ceremony
Davido’s return to the Africa Cup of Nations stage in 2025 came with greater stature and global recognition. Headlining the AFCON 2025 opening ceremony in Morocco alongside French Montana, he delivered a performance that reflected how far both his career and African music had come since his first AFCON appearance in 2017.
This ceremony was designed for a global audience, and Davido stood at the center of it, embodying the evolution of African entertainment on the world stage. His presence reinforced AFCON’s growing international appeal and its commitment to showcasing African excellence not just in football but in culture and creativity.
A Cultural Ambassador Beyond the Pitch
Davido’s appearances on football’s biggest stages are not isolated highlights but part of a broader story about representation, influence, and cultural power. From AFCON to the FIFA World Cup and elite football ceremonies in Europe, his journey shows how African artists now occupy spaces once reserved for a narrow group of global superstars.
Each performance carries more than sound and spectacle. It carries identity, pride, and a message that African music belongs at the center of the world’s biggest moments. Through football, Davido’s music has reached audiences that extend far beyond traditional fan bases, strengthening his position as one of Africa’s most visible cultural ambassadors.
As football continues to embrace global sounds and stories, Davido’s legacy on its biggest stages stands as proof that music and sport, when combined, create moments that live far beyond the final whistle and are imprinted on the sands of time.