The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, has reignited debate around prophecy and spiritual discernment following comments he made on a controversial prediction linked to Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
Naijaonpoint reports that Adeboye spoke at a recent programme held at the RCCG Redemption City, where he cautioned Christians to exercise wisdom when responding to prophetic pronouncements, warning against what he described as the growing trend of sensational or questionable prophecies.
Although he did not mention any cleric by name, Adeboye referred to a prophecy which circulated ahead of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
The prophecy reportedly advised that Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman should not be selected for the national team if Nigeria hoped to succeed in the competition.
The prediction generated widespread attention on social media, with many interpreting it as a warning of poor performance or misfortune should the Atalanta forward be included in the squad.
However, events on the pitch appeared to contradict that narrative.
Lookman scored the winning goal in Nigeria’s 2–1 opening victory over Tanzania and went on to deliver a standout 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.
“I Was Laughing” – Adeboye
Recalling the episode, Adeboye told his congregation that 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 said.
While acknowledging the role of genuine prophecy within the Christian faith, the RCCG leader urged believers to apply discernment and avoid treating every spiritual claim as divinely inspired.
Drawing from biblical examples, Adeboye emphasised 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 cautioned, stressing that his remarks were not aimed at the many self-acclaimed prophets seeking relevance.
“I Am Not A Prophet” – Adeboye
Adeboye also clarified his own position, distancing himself from the prophetic title.
“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.”