Taribo West Reveals Divine Encounter That Made Him Quit Football for Ministry

• The ex-footballer recounts a transformative encounter with God before deciding to become a pastor.

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has opened up about the powerful spiritual experience that inspired his transition from football to full-time ministry.

In a recent interview with the BBC, the ex-footballer—famed for his iconic hairstyles—revealed that his path took a dramatic turn after what he described as a direct encounter with God. He recounted seeing God face-to-face, a moment that deeply transformed his life and prompted him to walk away from professional sports.

Taribo shared that the turning point came when he audibly heard God instruct him to apologize to a woman he had wronged. After obeying the instruction and speaking with her, he received several prophetic revelations that further solidified his decision to embrace a new life as a pastor.

The former defender, now a preacher, emphasized that the experience was unlike anything he had ever gone through and marked the beginning of his spiritual journey.

“Why would I switch from being a footballer to becoming a pastor? I saw God one-on-one. That’s where my transition started; From the field to the pulpit.

“We were celebrating. In the middle of that, a woman stumbled into me and said: ‘Sir, please may I know your name?’ I said: ‘I am Mr No name’.

She said: ‘May I know where you live?’ I said: ‘I live nowhere.’ She left with annoyance.

“In the twinkle of an eye, I just heard an audible voice. And it came like a slap. It said: ‘Switch, turn.’ I turned. It said: ‘Look at the woman. Look for her now and call that woman and apologize to her. I said that to you.’ That can only be a voice from God.

“So I switched, like a Robocop, I start searching for the woman, and when this sister came all the way from America, she told me a lot of prophecies. And she told me in the next one or two years; I would open a church. All the prophecies she gave me came to pass.”