The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has sparked fresh debate on prophecy and spiritual discernment after reflecting on a controversial prediction linked to Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
Speaking at a recent programme at the RCCG Redemption City, Adeboye cautioned believers to apply wisdom when responding to prophetic pronouncements, warning against the rising trend of what he described as questionable or sensational prophecies.
Although he did not mention any individual by name, the cleric made reference to a widely shared prophecy credited to Primate Elijah Ayodele, who reportedly advised ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco that Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman should not be included in the national team.
The prophecy, which gained traction on social media, was interpreted by many as foretelling misfortune or underperformance for the Atalanta forward.
However, subsequent events on the field appeared to undermine that narrative.
Lookman went on to score the winning goal in Nigeria’s 2–1 opening victory over Tanzania and delivered an impressive performance against Tunisia, netting once and providing two assists in a dramatic 3–2 win that secured the Super Eagles a place in the knockout stage.
Recalling the episode, Adeboye said he found the situation amusing when he came across the prophecy.
“I was laughing when I read that a prophet said that if we wanted to win a match, a particular player must not be selected, and they ignored him, and the same player scored the winning goal.
“I just said, glory be to God,” he told the congregation.
While acknowledging the place of genuine prophecy in the Christian faith, Adeboye stressed the need for caution, urging believers not to treat every spiritual claim as divinely inspired.
Referencing biblical examples, he noted that true breakthroughs are achieved through authentic divine direction rather than dramatic or attention-seeking declarations.
“Be careful how you handle a prophet that God has truly sent to you,” he warned, adding that his comments were not directed at the many self-acclaimed prophets seeking relevance.
Adeboye also took a moment to clarify his own role within the church. “I am not a prophet; I am a pastor,” he said. “It is only that once in a while, God speaks to me, and I believe many of you will not forget what you have heard today.”
His remarks come amid ongoing public debate in Nigeria over the role of faith and prophecy in sports, particularly during emotionally charged tournaments like the AFCON.
Primate Ayodele, for his part, has since defended his earlier comments, maintaining that they were misunderstood and should be evaluated within the context of the entire tournament rather than based on individual matches.
