Ghazali Ibrahim
Grammy Winning Afrobeats star Burna Boy stunned fans and players alike with a surprise performance outside Buckingham Palace as England’s women’s soccer team celebrated their dramatic victory at the UEFA Women’s European Championships.
The Lionesses, who defended their title with a nail-biting penalty shootout win over Spain in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday (July 27), capped off two days of celebrations with an open-top bus parade and a special presentation at the iconic London landmark.
The highlight of the ceremony came when former England player Alex Scott introduced Burna Boy on stage, revealing that head coach Sarina Wiegman had long named him as her favourite artist.
“Three years ago in Trafalgar Square you said, ‘I am not ready to dance, the music was not quite right.’ The surprise right now — we know who your favorite artist is — he is in the building, so we want to see you dance. Please give it up, everybody, for Sarina’s favorite artist. Burna Boy is coming to the stage,” Scott announced to roaring cheers.
A visibly stunned Wiegman screamed “Oh, no way!” as Burna Boy joined the team on stage.
Together they sang and danced to his 2022 hit “For My Hand” featuring Ed Sheeran from the album Love, Damini.
Wiegman had previously revealed in 2023 that the track topped her playlists.
“I don’t know the name of the song ‘For My Hand’, with Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran. I have definitely played that song the most,” she told reporters at the time.
England’s victory is historic, marking the first time either the men’s or women’s national team has lifted a major trophy on foreign soil.
The men’s team famously won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley Stadium, while the women’s team claimed their previous Euro title at home in 2022.
Burna Boy’s impromptu performance added a distinctly global flavour to the celebrations, highlighting the cultural reach of Afrobeats and its growing connection to major sporting milestones on the international stage.