Adeboye prays for return of Nigeria’s sporting glory

By OLAYINKA LATONA The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has offered prayers for the restoration of Nigeria’s former dominance in international sports. The respected cleric spoke during the August special Thanksgiving service and prayer session for sports stakeholders, real estate developers, and their families at the church’s national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The service was themed “Divine Champion.” “Lord, we pray that through the sportsmen, including the stakeholders, you will restore those glorious days in sport, particularly in Africa, and Nigeria,” Adeboye said.

“Those who are connected with sport one way or the other, that by the special grace of God, they will keep on succeeding, that all the glories that Nigeria used to enjoy in the past in sport would be restored. There was a time when Nigeria won the World Cup. That such glorious days would return.” Drawing from Ephesians 6:12, which describes life as a continuous wrestling match, Adeboye used boxing as an analogy for the Christian journey, defining a champion as “the man who remains standing after the boxing bout, with his hand raised in victory.” According to the revered pastor, becoming a champion requires three essential elements: strength, wisdom, and a good coach.

“By strength shall no man prevail,” Adeboye declared, quoting from 1 Samuel 2:9. He noted that one’s own strength is often insufficient in life’s battles, adding that “when you get into a real battle, you will soon realize the saying of our elders that it is the one who has never seen battle who calls himself a man.” The cleric stressed that even the strongest individuals grow weary and need divine assistance, referencing Isaiah 14:29-31, which speaks of God giving strength to the weak and renewing the strength of the youth. Addressing the need for wisdom, Adeboye drew lessons from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, whom he described as his hero.

He recounted how Ali would intentionally provoke opponents, knowing that an angry fighter becomes careless in the ring. “You need God, you need one who knows all things,” Adeboye said, cautioning that even those closest could become adversaries when the moment of truth arrives. The General Overseer also emphasized the importance of a good coach who is never satisfied with a boxer’s current level because they know improveme…