- Pastor Adeboye reacts to prophecy urging Lookman’s exclusion
- Ademola Lookman scores and assists as Nigeria advances at AFCON
- Cleric warns against rising “attention-seeking prophets”
- Nigerians debate faith, prophecy, and football once again
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has stirred fresh conversations around prophecy after humorously reacting to a failed prediction involving Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking during a recent church programme at RCCG Redemption City, Pastor Adeboye cautioned believers against blindly accepting every spiritual declaration, warning about what he described as the rise of “funny funny prophets” in today’s society.
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Without calling names, the respected cleric referenced a widely shared prophecy linked to Primate Elijah Ayodele, which had advised ahead of AFCON 2025 that Ademola Lookman should be excluded from the Super Eagles squad.
Contrary to the prediction, events on the pitch told a different story. Lookman emerged as one of Nigeria’s standout performers, scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Tanzania before delivering a brilliant performance against Tunisia, where he netted a goal and provided two assists in a thrilling 3–2 win that secured Nigeria’s place in the knockout stage.
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Recalling the episode, Adeboye admitted he found the prophecy amusing.
“I was laughing when I read that a prophet said if we are to win a football match, a particular fellow must not be included in the team,” he said.
“They did not listen, and that same fellow scored the winning goal. I said, glory be to God.”
The cleric stressed that while genuine prophecy remains sacred, not every spiritual claim should be elevated to divine authority. Drawing from biblical examples, he urged believers to distinguish between authentic divine messages and sensational pronouncements.
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“Take care how you handle a prophet that God has sent to you,” Adeboye cautioned, adding that his remarks were not aimed at genuine servants of God but self-styled prophets seeking relevance.
Clarifying his own role, Adeboye added: “Me? I am not a prophet, I am a pastor. It is just that once in a while, I hear from God.”
The remarks have reignited nationwide discussions on the relationship between faith, prophecy, and sports, especially amid Nigeria’s emotionally charged AFCON campaign.
Although Primate Ayodele has since defended his earlier comments, insisting they were misinterpreted and meant to be judged over the course of the tournament, Adeboye’s light-hearted response has resonated widely with Nigerians online.
As the Super Eagles continue their AFCON journey, the episode serves as a reminder that football, like life often defies human predictions.
