Jimmy Odukoya, a Nigerian actor and senior pastor, gained attention on X (formerly Twitter) after a video of him praying for the Super Eagles went viral.
The video features Odukoya leading a prayer during a church service.
He prayed for the Nigerian national football team to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Nigerian actor and senior pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Jimmy Odukoya, recently went viral on X (formerly Twitter) after a video of him praying for the Super Eagles surfaced online.
In the trending clip, Odukoya well known for his passion for football led a prayer during a church service, asking God to help the Nigerian national team secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“That World Cup, we must enter. God no go shame us,” he prayed, as the congregation echoed their agreement.
However, after Nigeria crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs losing 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo on Sunday, November 16 the video reappeared on social media, sparking fresh reactions.
Responding to the resurfaced clip, popular X influencer OurFaveOnlineDoc criticised Odukoya, saying he had invited unnecessary ridicule by offering prayers “over a useless football game.”
“Pastors who do things like this only attract mockery,” the influencer wrote, adding, “God is not a football punter.”He wrote:
“Making such ‘prayers’ about a useless football game will only set you up as a laughingstock when the ‘prayer’ fails as it has clearly done in this regard. It is irreverent to turn a church into a comedy arena for granting football wishes and present God like a genie that decides outcomes of football games. In the end, doing things like this only makes Christianity look like a circus performance of delusional clowns. God is not a football punter. Let’s leave him out of such ephemeral ridiculousness. I say this with very huge due respect. I really love PJ but this was so heartbreaking to watch.”
See post below:
Pastors who do things like this only attract ridicule and mockery to themselves.
Making such “prayers” about a useless football game, will only set you up as a laughingstock when the ‘prayer’ fails as it has clearly done in this regard.
It is irreverent to turn a church into a… https://t.co/Y7xpwWx4v9
— OurFaveOnlineDoc 🇬🇧 🇳🇬 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) November 17, 2025
Read some comments below:
@thinklikelay:”Is it ever that deep.”
@the_oddmind:”I felt offended yesterday watching a senior pastor use Sunday service for frivolity. Are there no more qualified people to lead that church than wok of the founder? God exists, prayer works but God cannot be trivialized. “
@Danielbeloved28:”Pastors have turned the altar into a jamboree for pathetic display of tomfoolery.”
@NigVoteWatchers:”Even if this was meant as a joke or some harmless show of passion and sportsmanship, it still ended in ridicule. It became an unnecessary distraction from whatever solid sermon or worship moment happened in church that day.”
@LaVidaMercy:”You’re absolutely right. When pastors start praying over football scores like God is some football referee, they turn the entire church into a comedy skit. It’s embarrassing, and it cheapens the faith. This kind of theatrics only makes Christianity look unserious.”
@chemy393:”This is why I can’t take some pastors seriously they are just a complete joke.”
