Heavy rains could not dim the sparkle of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening ceremony on Sunday as Morocco kicked off the 35th edition of the tournament with a vibrant cultural spectacle at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Excitement had grown throughout the day across various cities, and the lengthy wait for the opening ceremony was worthwhile, with Moroccan heritage and Pan-Africanism on display.
The stadium was pulsed with colour, rhythm, and energy while mass dance performances unfolded under lights.
The ceremony featured live music and stunning visual effects, culminating in high-energy performances by Afrobeats star Davido, global rap artiste French Montana and singer Jaylann, who delivered the official AFCON 2025 soundtrack to a roaring 60,180 fans in attendance.
The highlight for Moroccan fans came when Prince Moulay Hassan officially kicked off the tournament with a powerful kick of the football, drawing cheers in the stadium.
Dr Patrice Motsepe, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, welcomed the world as they are set to witness the best of African football and thanked King Mohammed VI and Prince Moulay Hassan for their support of football.
“Today, we welcome Africa and we welcome the world to Morocco. We will show the world the best football from this continent, the best players in Africa, and the best players in the world,” Dr Motsepe said.
He praised Morocco for making Africa proud by reaching the semis of the 2022 World Cup and also reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to youth development and unity across the continent.
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President who also graced the occasion, mentioned the unifying role of football and wished all 24 participating football teams well.
He also described Morocco as a passionate football country and peaceful while thanking King Mohammed VI for hosting Africa’s topmost football showcase.
