It is impossible to imagine the Africa Cup of Nations without music.

The opening ceremony is always launched with a commissioned anthem. It is rare to catch sight of young African players without headphones on. Increasingly, teams now arrive at stadiums with loudspeakers in tow, breaking into synchronized chants or dances as they make their way to the dressing room.

Now that Matchday 1 of the 2025 AFCON is in the books, we’ve had enough time to get a sense of what everyone has been listening to at Africa’s biggest football party.

Here’s a round-up of what players and fans are listening to after the opening matchday of the tournament.

Stadium arrivals have become one of the defining features of the AFCON. In no other competition do teams step off their bus chanting in unison as they enter the stadium and walk toward the dressing room.

With every edition, these moments grow bigger and more theatrical. At the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon’s Nathan Douala captivated the continent by carrying a loudspeaker and leading the Indomitable Lions into stadiums while blasting “Pour le kior,” a controversial song about the extremes people go to in pursuit of drugs. While some Cameroonians felt the display reflected poorly on a national institution, much of the continent found it entertaining.

This year, the standout stadium arrival belongs to Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional. When they stepped off the team bus at Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca ahead of their December 24 match versus Burkina Faso, they put on a show perfectly suited for CAF’s social media channels. Led by Emilio Nsue, the squad burst into a synchronized rendition of “Los chicos del Nzalang” by Mac Miguel B.

The song is irresistibly catchy. After a few listens, it’s impossible not to join in on the “me gusta” and “que pasa, que pasa” refrains alongside the players. A genuine hit.

National team anthems

For many Comorians, their relationship with the AFCON began at the 2021 edition in Cameroon. In their first-ever appearance, the Coelacanths stunned the world by defeating Ghana and reaching the Round of 16. To mark the moment, 11 of Comoros’ biggest rappers, including Alonzo, Soprano, Rohff and Vincenzo came together to create this iconic track.

Patriotic football songs are often tacky and overproduced, but this one stands out. The star power is undeniable, and it remains a track that players and fans alike genuinely enjoy—still widely used by the squad in their everyday social media posts.

Team presentations

There is plenty the Confederation of African Football gets wrong when organizing the AFCON, but its marketing and digital teams consistently deliver. From sleek graphics to stylized team presentations, CAF has mastered the art of social-first content.

While posing in front of a green screen, Burkina Faso’s Georgi Minoungou danced passionately to “Weedo” by Burkinabé artist Floby—a song about resilience, self-belief and dignity in the face of hardship.

The Benin Cheetahs, meanwhile, jumped on a TikTok challenge set to Congolese rapper Naza’s “Tout donner” (“Gave it all away”).

Angola are arguably one of the most musical teams on the continent. They need no excuse to dance. So when Cleyton M’s “Money” came on during media day, it was no surprise to see Ary Papel, Neblu and others joining in on the viral TikTok trend.

In their headphones

Bafana Bafana’s stadium arrivals are usually marked by Mohau Nkota and Ronwen Williams leading the squad in ancestral and spiritual chants.

But if we were to imagine what the younger players are listening to right now, it would almost certainly be CIZA’s “ISAKA (6AM)”.

To the north, Zambia’s Chipolopolo are known for their religiosity, but players like Frankie Musonda and Fashion Sakala also stand out for their flamboyance. Their soundtrack would likely include Yo Maps’ “Mr and Mrs.”

Solidarity against the odds

One of the most heartwarming storylines of the 2025 AFCON has been the camaraderie between Algerian and Moroccan supporters. It’s a reminder that while governments may be at odds, football has the power to unite people.

In this spirit, one football chant has been trending on TikTok. It began in early December, when Algerian and Moroccan fans celebrated Morocco’s Arab Cup triumph by singing “Zkara fi Air Algerie” (“In defiance of Air Algerie”) at Souq Waqif in Qatar.

The original version tells the story of Ultras Inferno—supporters of an Algerian club—responding to Air Algerie’s decision to hike prices ahead of an inter-club match in Casablanca. In protest, fans famously crossed the closed land border into Morocco illegally.

Light-hearted as it may seem, the lyrics capture the mindset of much of North African youth: faced with political absurdities, defiance becomes a form of expression rather than resignation.

Though the song had nothing to do with the AFCON initially, its message feels uncannily relevant as Algerian fans overcame numerous obstacles to travel to Morocco in pursuit of continental glory.