Nigerian singer, Yemi Alade, will headline the opening ceremony of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicking off in Ivory Coast on Saturday, January 13, at 19:00 GMT.
The singing sensation, who made the announcement on her verified X account, said it was a “dream come true” for her to be chosen to perform at the AFCON.
In the tweet, the singer revealed that she had been praying for an opportunity to perform at football ceremonies since 2016.
She further emphasised the importance of “prayer and speaking into existence your heart desires”, adding that she was honoured to perform at AFCON.
“I cannot buttress the importance of prayer and speaking into existence your heart desires,” she wrote.
“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 was favourable.
“I never said this, but at someu point, I started feeling like my team was chasing them away but something told me to let them do their job.
“7 years after, I’m performing at AFCON. It’s indeed an honour and a dream come true. It’s just the beginning! God bless my team”, she said.
Alade is one of the best female musicians on the continent who has grown from strength to strength after the release of her debut single in 2014, “Johnny,” rising to the pinnacle of the music echelon after a career stretch defined by hits, premium performances, and awards.
The multilingual singer, who sings in French, Igbo, Yoruba, and English, received the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) for Best Female in 2015 and 2016.