Nigerian music star Burna Boy has revealed that British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran played a key role in securing his feature on Shakira’s song Dai Dai and preparing him for the pressure of performing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Speaking in a recent interview with Capital FM, the Grammy Award-winning Afro-fusion artiste said Sheeran gave him advance notice about his involvement in the World Cup final performance, knowing how demanding such a global event would be.
“He had to give me a heads-up like, ‘Yo, you’re going to have to perform at the finals.’ He knows me… he knows how I get down,” Burna Boy said.
“He knows the stress part is a bit crazy for me, so he gave me a heads-up. He was like, ‘Yo, it’s going to be real stressful.'”
The singer praised Sheeran, describing him as both intelligent and supportive.
“He’s just a very sensible and lovable guy. He is someone I have taken to personally from the beginning. Ed is very smart, man. He always knows what he is doing,” he added.
Sheeran is credited as one of the songwriters on Dai Dai, alongside producer Alexander Castillo.
Shakira had earlier disclosed that she waited 20 days for Burna Boy to deliver his verse for the collaboration. The Colombian singer later described his contribution as “the cherry on top”, saying his vocals elevated the track “to another level”.
Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, explores themes of resilience, determination and inner strength.
