Burna Boy gave a surprise performance on stage outside Buckingham Palace in London as England’s women’s soccer team celebrated its recent triumph in the European Championships.
The Lionesses secured the trophy in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday (July 27) in a nail-biting victory over Spain following a penalty shoot-out. The team defended its title, having previously won the trophy in 2022.
The team has been spending the past two days celebrating the victory, first with a visit to 10 Downing Street before an open-top bus parade and presentation outside London’s famous Buckingham Palace.
It was here that the Nigerian artist shocked England manager Sarina Wiegman with an impromptu performance with the squad on stage. Burna Boy was introduced on stage by former England player Alex Scott and made reference to the fact that he was Wiegman’s favorite singer.
Scott said: “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.”
Wiegman – who has managed the side since 2021 – screamed “oh, no way” and looked shocked as he arrived on stage. The pair then danced and sang his 2022 song “For Your Hand,” which features Ed Sheeran and appears on his LP Love, Damini.
In 2023, Wiegman told reporters that she was a huge fan of the Afrobeat star, and that Burna Boy appeared at the top of 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.”
England’s victory marked the first time either the men or women’s team had lifted a major football trophy on foreign soil. The men’s team won the 1966 World Cup at Wembley Stadium, while the women’s team also triumphed at home back in 2022.
Watch Burna Boy with Wiegman below:
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