Cameroon 2021: Finding the mix
Cameroon’s tournament, played in 2022, felt like a reset. The musical lineup was deliberately pan‑African: Youssou N’Dour, Fally Ipupa, Dadju, Diamond Platnumz and Cameroonian star Tenor.
It was a version of AFCON that embraced the continent’s variety rather than trying to smooth it out.
AFCON’s songs don’t end when the final blows. They linger in taxis, viewing centres, playlists and memory. Years later, many fans remember the soundtrack before they remember the scoreline.
During the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Magic System’s performance of their theme song Akwaba was one of the highlights of the competition, while Tam Sir’s Coup De Marteau became a viral sensation on social media.
That blend of football and music is part of AFCON’s enduring appeal, where moments on the pitch often sit comfortably alongside sounds that define an era. Over the years, the tournament has helped turn songs into shared memories, carried from stadiums to streets across the continent.
Magic System’s Magic in the Air**,** released in 2014, was never an official AFCON theme. Yet its association with the 2015 tournament remains strong, becoming an unofficial soundtrack for many fans.
Mention AFCON 2010, 2013 or 2019, and a song usually comes to mind before a goal.
That is the quiet power of these ceremonies. They turn football tournaments into cultural timestamps.
Because at AFCON, it’s the music – and the dance – that lingers.