AFCON 2025
Players of Aston Villa celebrated wildly with Nigerian music after booking a place in the UEFA Europa League final, as members of the squad were seen vibing to “Badman Gangsta” by Asake inside the dressing room.
The celebrations came after Villa produced a comeback against Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg at Villa Park on Thursday night.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Unai Emery’s side responded emphatically with a 4-0 victory in front of their home fans to advance 4-1 on aggregate. Goals from Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Buendía and a brace from captain John McGinn sealed Villa’s place in the final.
The Premier League club will now face German side SC Freiburg in the Europa League final scheduled for May 20 at the Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. Freiburg reached the final after defeating Braga 4-3 on aggregate.
The qualification is Aston Villa’s first European final since 1982 and keeps alive their hopes of winning a first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup. Manager Unai Emery, widely regarded as a Europa League specialist, is now heading into his sixth final in the competition.
Shortly after the victory, videos surfaced online showing Villa players dancing and singing along to Asake’s “Badman Gangsta,” a moment that quickly drew reactions from football and music fans across social media.
The viral celebration once again showed the growing influence of Afrobeats in European football dressing rooms, with Nigerian songs increasingly becoming part of major football celebrations across Europe.
