Nigeria’s loss to Morocco is, at its core, a sporting result—nothing more, nothing less. One team prepared better on the day, executed their tactics, and won. Another lost. That is the nature of competitive sports. Yet the deeper concern is not the defeat itself, but the spiritual confusion that followed it.
In recent times, a dangerous trend has emerged: the spiritualization of entertainment and national pastimes. Football, music concerts, and political events are being clothed in religious language and treated as if they carry divine weight. This is where the problem lies.
When a gospel minister such as Nathaniel Bassey publicly frames a football match—or its outcome—within the atmosphere of worship, thanksgiving, or spiritual triumph, a subtle but serious error is introduced. God is not competing in AFCON qualifiers. Heaven is not divided along national teams. Angels are not defending goalposts.
Worship Is Sacred—Entertainment Is Not
Worship, biblically, is a holy response to God’s revelation, not a reaction to a sports result.
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Turning a football victory into a “worship service” trivializes worship and reduces God to a national mascot—someone to be praised when we win and silently blamed when we lose.
This mindset also subtly teaches believers that:
Victory = God is present
Loss = God is absent or displeased
That is poor theology and spiritually unhealthy.
*The Folly of Mixing Realms*
Football belongs to the realm of skill, preparation, discipline, and chance.
The gospel belongs to the realm of repentance, redemption, holiness, and eternal truth.
When these realms are confused:
The church becomes emotionally driven rather than doctrinally grounded
Faith is reduced to excitement and national pride
God is used as a tool to validate human activities
Ironically, this does not glorify God—it uses Him.
God Is Not a Tribal Deity
Nigeria lost to Morocco national football team, not to demons, witches, or spiritual forces. Morocco’s players prayed too. Some may be Christians, Muslims, or non-religious. Does God switch allegiance based on jerseys?
The God of Scripture is not Nigerian, Moroccan, African, or European. He is Lord of all nations, including those that lose matches.
*A Call for Discernment*
The church/Christians must recover discernment:
Celebrate sports as sports
Enjoy entertainment as entertainment
Reserve worship for God alone
Not every emotional moment is spiritual. Not every gathering is a service. Not every victory deserves an altar call.
When we turn everything into “spiritual activity,” we end up emptying spirituality of meaning.
Nigeria lost a football match.
God did not lose His throne.
The gospel was neither advanced nor hindered by the scoreline.
Let us keep worship holy, faith sound, and entertainment in its proper place.
*Bro Olumide*
Pastor, The Bride Assembly Church, Lagos.
