– Odion Ighalo Struggle With Tithing- Recounts Experience
Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has opened up about his longstanding commitment to paying tithes, revealing how he maintained the practice from his early days as a young footballer earning ₦15,000 to the period when his football career brought him millions of dollars.
Ighalo made the revelation during an interview with Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade on her Rash4Christ Podcast, where he spoke about his Christian faith and the challenges he encountered while trying to remain consistent with tithing as his income increased.
According to the former Manchester United forward, his journey with tithing began in 2005 when he was just 16 years old and playing for Nigerian club Julius Berger.
He explained that his pastor introduced him to the biblical principle of tithing, encouraging him to set aside 10 per cent of his earnings for God.
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Ighalo said he remained committed to the practice even as his football career progressed and his financial circumstances changed significantly.
However, he admitted that maintaining the commitment became challenging when he moved to China and began earning substantially higher wages.
The footballer recalled that seeing how much he would have to give as tithe made him reconsider the practice, leading him to delay making the payment.
He explained that after praying about the situation, he believed God reminded him not to abandon a principle he had followed when he had very little.
“Don’t change the winning formula. If you can be faithful with little, you’ll be faithful with any amount,” Ighalo recounted.
Odion Ighalo Struggle With Tithing
He further maintained that his approach to tithing has remained unchanged, regardless of how much he earns.
The former Super Eagles striker also addressed criticism from people who question the practice of paying tithes to pastors, insisting that his decision is based on his personal understanding of God’s Word.
According to him, pastors would ultimately be accountable to God for how they manage the money entrusted to them.
Beyond paying tithes, Ighalo disclosed that he also sows seeds and supports the less privileged, particularly the poor.
His revelation has reignited conversations about tithing, financial commitment and religious giving, with his account highlighting the personal convictions that have shaped his approach to money throughout his football career.
