Nigerian pastor’s Arsenal prediction sparks massive online banter

Pastor Dolapo Lawal’s viral clash with Arsenal fans over his prediction that the club would not win the Premier League ended in humour and reconciliation after the Gunners eventually secured their first league title in 22 years.

Dolapo Lawal of Zoe Household Global Church has become the centre of one of the most talked-about social media football dramas in recent weeks after his comments about Arsenal sparked outrage among the club’s Nigerian supporters. In April 2026, a video of the pastor speaking during a church message went viral after he boldly stated that Arsenal would not win the English Premier League title this season. With the title race at a critical stage, the remarks triggered a wave of reactions across X, TikTok and Facebook, as Arsenal fans heavily criticised the cleric online.

As the backlash intensified, Pastor Dolapo released a follow-up video defending himself and addressing the online attacks. In a humorous twist, he openly admitted that he was a Manchester United supporter and explained that his comments were merely football banter rather than an official “thus saith the Lord” prophecy. Despite his clarification, Arsenal fans continued trolling him online as the club pushed closer to ending their long wait for a league title.

On May 15, 2026, the pastor released another lighthearted apology video dedicated to Arsenal supporters, praising the team’s resilience and jokingly pleading for mercy after the Gunners proved critics wrong. Following Arsenal’s dramatic confirmation as Premier League champions — their first title in 22 years — Pastor Dolapo joined the celebrations and congratulated the club, effectively ending the online feud. The incident has since been widely described as another example of how deeply football passion and social media culture intersect in Nigeria, where even religious leaders are not spared from football banter.

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