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When AFCON Comes to Berlin: Inside the Maaya Public Screening with Birdiefootball
AFCON 2025 came alive in Berlin as Maaya hosted the city’s biggest public viewings, bringing together football, music, fashion, and food under one roof. From country-led DJs and cultural cuisine to vibrant crowds showing up in style, the watch party became more than matchday viewing.
AFCON 2025 may be over, great energy at Maaya is still very much alive. For weeks, Maaya became more than a venue, it turned into a home for football lovers, culture shapers, and members of the African diaspora coming together to celebrate the tournament in a way that felt personal, joyful, and deeply communal.
As the largest AFCON public viewings in Berlin, the Maaya watch party brought together both football fans and non-fans alike. People showed up not just to watch the games, but to experience them. Every match night felt like a celebration, where football met music, fashion, food, and community.
What made the experience special was the attention to cultural detail. Each game night featured a DJ representing the countries playing, setting the mood with music from across the continent.
DJs for Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt & Morocco
The soundscape shifted with every match- Afrobeats, Amapiano, and more creating an atmosphere that kept the crowd dancing even as the games played on screen. Food from different countries added another layer, turning each viewing into a full cultural exchange rather than just a football event.
The vibe inside Maaya was electric. Fans cheered, danced, debated goals, and celebrated together. Strangers became friends, conversations flowed easily, and the sense of unity was impossible to miss.
Just as striking was how people showed up styled, intentional, and expressive. Outfits told their own stories, blending football jerseys with streetwear, traditional pieces with modern looks, showing how fashion remains a key part of football culture.
Working with Maaya for this AFCON watch party felt natural for Birdiefootball. At its core, AFCON has always been more than a tournament. In Berlin, it became a reminder of how football creates spaces for belonging-especially for diaspora communities far from home. It brought people together, sparked pride, and created moments that will live well beyond the final whistle.
AFCON 2025 gave Berlin something special. Not just matches and memories, but a shared feeling of connection proof that football doesn’t end on the pitch, and culture doesn’t stop at borders.
Photography by Antontalphoto
