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Speaking recently at a programme at RCCG Redemption City, Adeboye cautioned believers to exercise wisdom when responding to prophetic pronouncements, warning against the growing trend of questionable or sensational prophecies.
Although he did not name any individual, the cleric alluded to a widely circulated 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 predicting misfortune or underperformance for the Atalanta forward. However, subsequent events on the field appeared to contradict this narrative. Lookman scored the winning goal in Nigeria’s 2–1 opening victory over Tanzania and delivered a stellar performance against Tunisia, scoring once and providing two assists in a dramatic 3–2 win that secured the Super Eagles a place in the knockout stage.
Reflecting on the incident, Adeboye described his reaction with amusement. “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 affirming 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 clarified his own role within the church: “I am not a prophet; I am a pastor. 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.”
Primate Ayodele has since defended his earlier comments, insisting they were misunderstood and should be assessed within the context of the entire tournament rather than based on individual matches.
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