In the article, Catalystng.com is going to talk about 10 Nigerian artistes who have performed at major sporting events.
Over the years, Nigerian artistes have taken Afrobeats to some of the world’s biggest sporting stages, leveraging global platforms like major football tournaments and award ceremonies to reach international audiences.
From the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League to the Ballon d’Or and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), these performances have played a key role in pushing Nigerian music beyond its borders.
See Nigeria’s notable performers and events below;
1. Burna Boy
Grammy-winning Nigerian superstar Burna Boy headlined the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show in Istanbul, delivering an electrifying performance ahead of the final clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan.
The show took place at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, where Burna Boy thrilled thousands of fans with a medley of his hit songs, setting the tone for the highly anticipated final. His appearance formed part of the annual Pepsi-sponsored Kick-Off Show, a global entertainment event held before the UEFA Champions League final each year.
Watch Burna Boy’s performance below;
2. D’banj
Nigerian music star D’banj delivered a memorable performance at the closing ceremony of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on February 10, 2013, further cementing the presence of Nigerian music on major continental stages.
The performance took place at the iconic FNB Stadium (Soccer City) in Johannesburg, South Africa, moments before the final clash between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. D’banj thrilled the crowd with his hit single Top of the World, which served as the official SuperSport anthem for the 2013 AFCON tournament. He also performed his global smash hit Oliver Twist, adding to the excitement ahead of the final.
The night proved historic for Nigeria, as the Super Eagles went on to defeat Burkina Faso to claim the AFCON title. In a symbolic moment that fused music and football, D’banj joined the Nigerian players on the pitch to celebrate their victory.
Later in 2013, the official music video for Top of the World was released, featuring footage from the AFCON stadium performance alongside highlights from the Super Eagles’ triumphant campaign, further immortalising the landmark moment.
Watch his performance below;
3. Davido
In 2022, Davido performed at the closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he delivered “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)”, one of the tournament’s official songs. The historic appearance marked a major milestone for Nigerian music, as Davido became one of the few African artistes to perform at a World Cup ceremony.
He also headlined the AFCON 2025 Kick-Off Concert in Rabat, Morocco (exact date not officially specified). The event, held at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone, was free to the public and organised to build excitement ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations set to take place in Morocco.
Davido shared the stage with international stars including French Montana, Douaa Lahyaoui, and Lartiste, transforming the venue into a high-energy party. Fans sang along word for word as he performed hit songs such as IF, Fall, Aye, and Unavailable. At several moments, the crowd loudly echoed lyrics like “Money fall on you, banana fall on you,” as flags waved and mobile phones lit up the night sky.
Watch Davido’s performance at the World Cup below;
Watch Davido’s AFCON 2025 performance below;
4. Rema
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Rema made history as the first African artist to perform at the prestigious 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, delivering his hit single “Calm Down”.
The performance took place on October 30, 2023, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, in front of a star-studded audience that included global football icons like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, with whom Rema was seen interacting and exchanging handshakes.
His historic appearance underscored the rising global influence of Afrobeats, following in the footsteps of fellow Nigerian stars Davido and Burna Boy, who have performed at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League finals, respectively.
Watch Rema’s performance below;
5. Tems
Tems also falls on the list of Nigerian artistes who have performed at major sporting events.
The inaugural FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final halftime show featured a star-studded lineup, including Nigerian Grammy winner Tems, Doja Cat, and J Balvin, with surprise appearances from Coldplay and Australian singer Emmanuel Kelly.
The final match took place on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, where Chelsea triumphed over Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-0 victory.
Tems headlined the halftime show, making history as the first African artist to perform at a FIFA tournament halftime event. She wowed the crowd with her hit single “Love Me Jeje”, delivering a performance that captured global attention.
6. Yemi Alade
Nigerian superstar Yemi Alade delivered a show-stopping performance celebrating African music and culture at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening ceremony. Taking place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Alade described the moment as a dream come true, having aspired to perform at a major football event since 2016.
The opening ceremony on January 13, 2024, saw Yemi Alade perform her hit song “Mama Africa” and join forces on the tournament’s official anthem, “Akwaba”—meaning “welcome” in the Baoulé language. Her set was hailed as a vibrant, energetic display that showcased African pride and unity, leaving Nigerians beaming with pride.
Alade’s performance, alongside those of other Nigerian artists at global football events, further cemented Afrobeats’ rising influence in sports and entertainment worldwide.
7. Femi Kuti
Legendary Nigerian Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti was among the featured performers at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a landmark moment that helped project Afrobeat to a global audience.
The ceremony was held on June 11, 2010, at the iconic Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Femi Kuti thrilled fans with a performance of his song “Bang, Bang, Bang,” appearing in Nigeria’s national colours as he represented the country on the world stage.
The opening ceremony showcased a rich mix of African and international acts, with other notable performers including R. Kelly, Hugh Masekela, Khaled, Osibisa, and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Beyond the World Cup, Femi Kuti has continued to lend his voice to major football events, including a performance at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt, further reinforcing his influence at the intersection of music and sport.
8. Kizz Daniel
Nigerian Afrobeats star Kizz Daniel thrilled fans with a live performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on November 23, 2022, as part of the official FIFA Fan Festival lineup.
The performance took place on the main stage at the FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda Park, Doha, where Kizz Daniel entertained an audience of over 50,000 fans. He opened his set with “Cough (Odo)” before running through a string of his global hits, including “Buga,” “One Ticket,” “Lie,” and “Pour Me Water.” He also paid tribute to Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti with a rendition of “African Woman.”
Describing the moment as a dream come true, Kizz Daniel fulfilled a long-held ambition to perform on the World Cup stage, having previously expressed his desire on social media to perform “Buga” at the tournament.
9. Patoranking
Nigerian reggae-dancehall star Patoranking delivered an energetic full-set performance at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha, Qatar, on Monday, November 28, 2022.
The performance took place at the FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda Park, where Patoranking was part of a diverse lineup of international artists entertaining football fans from around the world. He thrilled an enthusiastic crowd of over 40,000 fans, opening his set with the popular track “No Kissing Babe.”
While an official, uninterrupted recording of the full performance is not available from FIFA, several highlights and fan-recorded full-length videos from the show continue to circulate online, capturing the excitement of the moment.
10. Wizkid
Nigerian music superstar Wizkid has recorded several landmark performances at major sporting events and in world-class sports arenas, further underscoring his global appeal.
In 2022, Wizkid made history at the World Tennis League in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, becoming the first Nigerian musician to perform at the international tennis event. He thrilled fans with a live rendition of his hit songs, marking a significant crossover between Afrobeats and global sports entertainment.
That same year, the Grammy-winning singer also headlined the Gamers8 Esports Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His appearance at the event made him the first African artist to top the bill at Gamers8, one of the world’s largest esports and gaming tournaments, drawing massive global attention to African music on a new frontier.
From football stadiums to global award ceremonies, Nigerian artistes have consistently proven that Afrobeats is no longer confined to local or continental borders. The performances highlighted above show how Nigerian music has become a powerful cultural export, seamlessly blending with the world’s biggest sporting moments to reach millions of viewers across continents.
Whether it is Burna Boy commanding the UEFA Champions League stage, Davido and Kizz Daniel lighting up the FIFA World Cup, or legends like Femi Kuti laying the foundation years ago, these artistes have helped position Nigeria at the heart of global pop culture.
As Afrobeats continues to grow, one thing is clear: Nigerian music will remain a dominant soundtrack on the world’s biggest stages, with future generations poised to push the culture even further.
