ABIDJAN, 13 January 2024 Nigerian singer Yemi Alade stole the spotlight at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday, delivering a mesmerising performance that left fans in awe. The Total Energies AFCON shared a video of the performance on its official platform with the caption, “Amazing opening ceremony performance from #yemialadee.”
In a tweet posted on her official account on Thursday, Yemi Alade expressed her joy and gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as a “dream come true.” She revealed her long-standing desire to perform at football ceremonies since 2016 and credited the realisation of this dream to prayer and speaking her heart’s desires into existence.
Yemi Alade shared, “Since 2016, I have desired to perform at the stadium for football ceremonies surrounded by 100’s of dancers and millions of people. A lot of calls came in almost every year when football championship preparations were made, but none were favourable.”
Acknowledging the journey, she added, “7 YEARS AFTER, I’M PERFORMING AT AFCON. IT’S INDEED AN HONOUR, A DREAM COME TRUE ❤️ and it’s just the beginning!! God bless my team and most especially Jehovah, the captain of my ship that never fails.”
The AFCON 2023 tournament is being hosted by Cote d’Ivoire for the first time since 1984. As excitement builds, reports indicate heavy traffic in the city of Abidjan as supporters from various participating teams flock to the venue for the Group A opening match between the host country, Cote d’Ivoire, and Guinea-Bissau. The vibrant start to the tournament promises an exciting celebration of African football and culture.
