The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has stated that his recent prophecy regarding Nigeria’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations is being misunderstood and taken out of context. This comes after public criticism that he had written off Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman.
In a statement last Saturday, Primate Ayodele had raised several cautions regarding the national team. He singled out Lookman as a player who “will not help them,” advised against relying solely on goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, and recommended that star striker Victor Osimhen should not play full matches. He also predicted Nigeria could reach the final if the right adjustments were made.
However, Lookman scored the decisive goal in Nigeria’s opening 2–1 victory over Tanzania, leading to backlash against the cleric’s prediction.
In a statement issued on Thursday through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele clarified that his prophecy was misrepresented.
“My prophecy about Ademola Lookman in the ongoing AFCON tournament is being misrepresented and misunderstood by mischievous individuals,” the statement read. “The prophecy was a warning, and what I said was that Lookman will not help the team in the tournament, not exactly the match against Tanzania.”
He emphasized that the tournament is still in its early stages and urged patience before passing judgment. “This is just the beginning of the tournament. Only one match has been played; we should all wait before judging the prophecy. One game cannot define the outcome of the tournament.”
Primate Ayodele reiterated that his intention is to support Nigeria’s success. “It would be my greatest joy if the Nigerian team wins, but that can only happen if they listen to advice,” he said. “I have always rooted for the Nigerian team, and this is why my prophecies about them always come up. I want them to lift the trophy and come back home victorious, but it will only happen if advice is heeded.”
The clarification seeks to reframe his earlier comments not as a dismissal of Lookman’s ability, but as a broader cautionary message intended for the team’s campaign as a whole.