By John Ideye, Abuja
The world is currently celebrating the victory of Nigeria’s Super Falcons at the just-concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024, held in Morocco.
The Falcons defeated the host nation, Morocco, in a historic comeback, ending the match with a 3–2 scoreline in Nigeria’s favor.
However, beyond the physical action everyone sees on the pitch, there is a great deal of spiritual preparation that goes into every game played by the Super Eagles, Super Falcons, and even the junior teams—thanks to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, who goes the extra mile for the teams in this regard.
Although many may believe that sports have nothing to do with God or spirituality, people like Ibrahim Gusau do not share that perspective. He believes that spiritual counsel has helped Nigeria’s football teams in numerous ways at various times. This is why some clubs perform rituals before tournaments—because sports, especially football, often intersect with spiritual beliefs and practices.
For NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, his trust has always been in God. One of his main spiritual channels is Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church.
Interestingly, Gusau is a practicing Muslim. His choice of Primate Ayodele as his spiritual advisor dates back to his campaign for the NFF presidency. While seeking support for the role, Primate Ayodele—who had never met Gusau personally—publicly predicted his victory. He warned then-president Amaju Pinnick not to seek another term and declared that Gusau had been divinely chosen to succeed him.
Gusau’s belief in Primate Ayodele’s prophetic ministry became evident when he welcomed the cleric to the NFF headquarters in 2022. He expressed his trust in Ayodele’s spiritual guidance, stating that his administration would continue to heed the prophet’s advice.
“I thank you for this important visit. I want to assure you that we will always listen to you. We believe in prayer, and we will continue to pray,” Gusau said.
“We will continue to pray. This is your time. If you said it and it came to pass, then my success is also your success. I know God will be with you, and I wish you good health. Under my leadership, I will not disappoint Nigerians and will do my best to get the best for Nigeria.”
Since then, Gusau has frequently been seen with Primate Ayodele, especially during the prophet’s annual thanksgiving service held every February.
At one such event, Gusau openly declared his unwavering support and appreciation for the prophet. He recounted how surprised he was to learn that someone who had never met him or even lived in the same city (as Gusau is not based in Lagos) could support him so strongly during his campaign for NFF president.
“One journalist sent me a video of Primate Ayodele during a press conference, speaking about the NFF election. He mentioned some of the contestants and said that, to him, the person who would become president was Ibrahim Gusau. The journalist was shocked because I’m not a Christian and had never met the prophet.
Consistently, he stood by his prophecy regarding football. To the glory of God, the election came, and I won. I felt I should take time to appreciate the man of God for his support. He visited me in Abuja, we spoke and ate together. There’s no way he would host an occasion like this, and I wouldn’t attend—it would mean I don’t appreciate God. We will continue to ask for your prayers and will not disappoint you.”
Since then, Gusau has regarded Primate Ayodele as his spiritual guide in football matters at all levels. The prophet’s counsel includes spiritual direction on players, coaches, and even the technical department.
Primate Ayodele often offers these insights privately to the NFF president. When he does, he shares specific details such as favorable minutes during a match, the opponents’ weaknesses, and strategies the Nigerian team can use.
In addition to personal counsel, Primate Ayodele is known for his prophetic warnings related to sports—particularly football. For example, during the launch of his annual prophecy book Warnings to the Nations (2025/2026 Edition) on Saturday, July 5, 2025, he predicted that the Super Falcons would reach the final, but warned they must be careful not to let the trophy slip from their grasp.
As it happened, the Super Falcons’ victory came by the grace of God after a dramatic comeback. They conceded two goals in the first half but equalized and eventually won. Late in the match, a penalty was awarded to Morocco, which could have sealed Nigeria’s defeat—but it was eventually overturned, and Nigeria triumphed.
Primate Ayodele has issued several warnings to Nigeria’s football authorities that later came to pass when ignored. In the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the Super Eagles lost in the final, he had repeatedly warned that the team might “see the cup but not touch it”—a prophecy that proved accurate.
Today, Primate Ayodele is widely regarded as the “spiritual father” of Nigerian football, and NFF President Ibrahim Gusau is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigeria’s football system continues to receive spiritual guidance.
