🇲🇦MoroccoNorth Africa
Nora Fatehi's "Siir Siir" surpasses Shakira's "Dai Dai" in initial 24-hour views for World Cup 2026 song
via Le Matin3 min read
Nora Fatehi's new song "Siir Siir," featuring French singer and rapper Vegedream and Bangladeshi-American producer Sanjoy, officially launched on June 8 and garnered over 30 million views within 24 hours. This figure significantly outpaced Shakira's "Dai Dai," a collaboration with Burna Boy, which accumulated approximately 13 million views in its first 24 hours two weeks prior. Three days after its release, "Siir Siir" approached 38 million views, indicating a rapid start for one of the official World Cup 2026 album tracks. The song leverages Nora Fatehi's international recognition, Vegedream's association with sports celebration songs in French-speaking regions, and Sanjoy's production style optimized for digital platforms. "Siir Siir" also draws on a recognizable Moroccan reference, the chant used by supporters during the Atlas Lions' 2022 World Cup journey. The music video, filmed in Casablanca and Rabat, integrates this cultural dimension with Moroccan urban landmarks. The comparison with Shakira, a prominent figure in World Cup music history, gained traction on social media, particularly TikTok. While Shakira's "Dai Dai" holds a cumulative lead with over 118 million views approximately two weeks post-release, "Siir Siir" demonstrated a stronger initial performance. Both songs are becoming highly followed and discussed tracks from the World Cup 2026 soundtrack. The official World Cup 2026 album features 18 tracks from various international artists, including two of Morocc
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Must ReadThe Tiznit-Dakhla expressway in Morocco has been named the "President Donald J. Trump Highway." Former US President Donald J. Trump announced this on his Truth Social network, expressing gratitude to His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and hope to travel the road soon. This renaming follows the US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara under Trump's presidency. The 1,055-kilometer highway is a significant infrastructure project in Morocco and a major transport corridor in Africa. It is central to the economic development of the Southern Provinces, enhancing national connectivity and Morocco's role as a link between Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The nearly one-billion-dollar investment connects Tiznit to Dakhla, passing through key cities in the Southern Provinces. It includes a 555-kilometer section between Tiznit and Laâyoune, a dual carriageway, 16 engineering structures, and Morocco's longest viaduct. The highway improves travel and freight transport, boosting economic attractiveness and trade between the north and south of the Kingdom. It also supports the development of the future Dakhla Atlantic port, aiming to be a leading logistics platform on the African Atlantic coast. The highway aligns with the Royal Initiative to provide Sahel states with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean, strengthening ties between the Southern Provinces and Sahelian countries, and positioning Morocco as a gateway to African and international markets. This naming als
Moroccan talent Brahim Rabbaj, 17, has participated in recent first-team training sessions at Chelsea under the direction of Xabi Alonso. Images shared on social media show Rabbaj training alongside senior players. While this integration does not guarantee a permanent promotion, it signals strong confidence from the club's technical staff and sporting management. Born in January 2009, Rabbaj is considered one of Chelsea's most promising academy players, having joined from Crystal Palace in 2021. He can play as an attacking midfielder or on the wings. Rabbaj was also a key player for the Moroccan national team, contributing to the Atlas Cubs' victory in the U17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2025, where his performances solidified his status as a major talent in Moroccan football. His progress at Chelsea is being closely watched by both the English club and other European teams.
FC Barcelona has reached an agreement with 17-year-old Moroccan midfielder Mahdi El Maimouni for his integration into the club's youth category. According to a statement released by Barça on its social networks, El Maimouni will initially join the Catalan club's youth teams. The move is part of FC Barcelona's strategy to identify and attract young talents with high potential internationally to strengthen its training center. Depending on his development and performance, there is a prospect for him to join Barça Atlètic, the reserve team.