“See better song wey AFCON just waste.” That was Paul Ifiora on X, two days into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reposting the music video for “Le Show” to 892,000 views, 19,000 likes, and a comment section full of people hearing the song for the first time -  six months after it dropped.

‍“Le Show” by Ayra Starr, Davido and French Montana, produced by RedOne, was released in December 2025 as part of the official AFCON 2025 soundtrack. From the opening moments, the record sets a triumphant tone, driven by bold production, infectious rhythms, and a chorus that feels tailor-made for big stages. The recurring phrase “on va commencer le show” meaning “we’re about to start the show”,  acts as both a declaration and an invitation.  It is celebratory, exciting, and enchanting. It sounds like winning. It sounds, specifically, like a World Cup song. 

RedOne, the Moroccan-Swedish producer behind some of the biggest pop records of the last two decades, including the Qatar 2022 World Cup anthem, built “Le Show” with the same architecture. Ayra Starr shines as the emotional and melodic core of the song, her vocals smooth, commanding, and effortlessly catchy. Davido, who is known for his ability to turn any record into a celebration, adds a familiar spark as he delivers his verse with charisma and authority. French Montana bridges the continental and the global.  It is a record built for a stage larger than AFCON and it sounds like it. But “Dai Dai” has Shakira and a FIFA marketing budget. “Goals” has LISA, Anitta, and Rema on a global rollout. “Le Show” had AFCON - a tournament that, for all its cultural significance, does not move music the way the World Cup does. The song did not fail. It was under-promoted into obscurity by the infrastructure around it.

This is not an African music problem. It is an entertainment industry truth: the product that gets heard is rarely the best product. It is the best marketed one. “Dai Dai” and “Goals” will soundtrack highlight reels, closing ceremonies, and personal playlists for years. “Le Show” is being discovered on someone’s timeline in June 2026 - six months after it dropped, during a tournament it was never invited to.
That is not the song’s fault.

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