Fake AFCON Prophecy: Primate Ayodele slammed after Lookman defied prediction

Popular cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele is facing fierce backlash after his doom-laden prophecy about Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman crashed and burned at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, had warned that Lookman would “not help” Nigeria at AFCON, only for the Atalanta forward to fire home the winning goal in Nigeria’s 2–1 opening victory against Tanzania on Tuesday.

Just days before the match, the clergyman singled out Lookman as one to avoid, while also urging the team to drop goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and limit Victor Osimhen’s playing time.

“Ademola Lookman will not help them… the coach doesn’t have luck,” Ayodele declared last Saturday, though he added Nigeria could still reach the final “if they put the right people.”

But minutes after Tanzania equalized, Lookman struck decisively, sparking a social media firestorm against the cleric’s prediction.

Media strategist Deji Adesokan ignited reactions after posting on X: “Renowned cleric Primate Elijah Ayodele warned that Lookman would bring bad luck… the pitch proved otherwise.”

Here are more brutal reactions from Nigerian fans:

nwaezivictor
🚨Primate Ayodele embarrassed as Lookman scores in Super Eagles’ win, contradicting his prophecy of failure. Recall, he earlier prophesized that Lookman should not be featured in Nigeria game as he was going to cause Nigeria to lose the game.

Omochukwu1
When it comes to football, I’d rather listen to Mr Banks than listen to Primate Elijah Ayodele.
I’d advice the cleric to stick to kingdom prophecies.

@iamAzeezOna
Who knows whether he (the Primate Elijah Ayodele) has done what he knows how to do best? Soliciting for Money in the name of Fake Prophecies and Ademola Lookman has torn it down just like the Minister of Power Adelabu did to him.

@Favvyabam
“when a prophet speaks in the name of The Sovereign, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that The Sovereign has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”
[Dabarym/Deuteronomy 18:22]

The online verdict is clear, for many Nigerians, this latest prophecy has backfired spectacularly and Lookman’s left foot did all the talking.