Music and sports might live in different worlds, but the two often collide in the most powerful ways. Whether it’s the adrenaline, the fanfare, or the shared need to entertain, their paths cross more frequently than ever. In Nigeria, the intersection of music and sports is becoming common and defining culture.
The Nigerian music scene is at an all-time high, and with Afrobeats going global, it’s no surprise that it’s leaving a strong mark on the sporting world. Social media has made it easier for athletes to engage with music, and vice versa. Artists now build sports-centric personas, while athletes soundtrack their lives with local hits. And when these two sides meet, the impact can be massive.
We’ve seen Nigerian superstars dominate international sports stages. Burna Boy made history performing at the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final, while Davido performed the official anthem at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar. Rema wasn’t left out, performing at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony, proving that Afrobeats wasn’t just invited, it belonged on those stages.
Afrobeats was now part of the global conversation, even in spaces it previously hadn’t touched.
Sometimes, the music doesn’t just show up, it defines the moment. In 2023, Odumodublvck released “Declan Rice,” a track named after the then-West Ham midfielder. It was a hit in the streets, and when Arsenal signed the player for £105 million, they used the song to unveil him. A Nigerian rapper’s song as the soundtrack for a British football club’s biggest-ever transfer? That’s influence.
The song became more than a hit, it became part of Declan’s story. Every strong midfield showing from him now feels like a nod to Odumodu. The rapper has since leaned deeper into football, meeting players during his rollout for “The Machine is Coming” and even dropping a collaboration with Fulham and Super Eagles star Alex Iwobi. Odumodu’s merge of music and football isn’t a gimmick, it’s a blueprint.
Shallipopi is another name thriving at this cultural crossroad. His track “Laho” has become a national anthem and caught fire globally. NBA star Pascal Siakam adopted the dance as his three-point celebration, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott referenced it on social media, and the song even got a special feature on the UEFA Champions League’s Off Pitch Show.
One viral hit has become a soundtrack for highlight reels, tunnel vibes, and locker rooms..
Perhaps the most surreal story yet is Skales’ comeback. His 2014 hit “Shake Body” got a second life in 2025 after Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal posted a TikTok video dancing to it. The video blew up, clocking over 160 million views, and that single moment sparked a renaissance. Streams for the track skyrocketed, Skales met Yamal and the Barcelona team, and he’s now on a full-fledged Shake Body Europe Tour.
A song from over a decade ago was suddenly relevant again, thanks to one moment, one star, one sport. That’s the kind of power sports holds.
Of course, none of this is happening in isolation. A lot of factors contribute to a song blowing up, but there’s a growing, undeniable pattern: when Nigerian music meets the sports world, something magical tends to happen.
What’s next? Nobody knows for sure, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that when music and sports meet, especially in this new era, it’s always worth watching.
