Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has called for a new generation of leaders to take a more prominent role in the administration of Nigerian football, insisting that the country needs younger people with a better understanding of the modern game and the changing demands of the football industry.
Martins said Nigerian football cannot continue to rely solely on the same traditional leadership structures if the country wants to rebuild the sport and compete effectively in the modern era.
“We need younger leadership with a better understanding of the modern game,” Martins said.
The former Inter Milan, Newcastle United and Seattle Sounders forward believes younger Nigerians who understand the current realities of football administration, technology, business and the expectations of supporters could bring fresh ideas to the running of the game.
In making his point, Martins mentioned Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as one of the younger Nigerians who could potentially contribute to the development of football.
“People like Seyi Tinubu can contribute to the development of Nigerian football,” Martins said.
The former Nigeria international stressed that the issue should not simply be about replacing one individual with another, but about creating a new generation of football administrators capable of understanding the needs of modern Nigerian football.
“Young people who understand the system and the needs of Nigerians can help drive positive change,” he added.
Martins’ comments come at a major turning point for Nigerian football following the resignation of NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee.
Gusau announced his resignation at a World Press Conference in Abuja, saying he had taken the decision in the overriding interest of Nigerian football and to provide room for a “comprehensive and orderly reform process.”
The resignation followed growing pressure after a difficult period for Nigeria’s national teams, including the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ historic failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The developments have subsequently triggered widespread calls for a fundamental restructuring of Nigerian football.
National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko has said the time has come for “a new look” in the way football is administered in Nigeria, while several former internationals and administrators have demanded changes to the system rather than merely replacing individuals.
Martins’ intervention adds another dimension to the debate by focusing specifically on the age and mindset of those entrusted with running the sport.
The former striker believes football has changed dramatically and that administrators must understand areas such as commercialisation, technology, player development, infrastructure and the global football economy.
Nigeria, he argues, has enormous football talent and passion but needs leadership capable of converting those advantages into sustainable success.
Martins enjoyed a successful career across Europe and the United States, playing for some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Inter Milan and Newcastle United. He also earned 42 caps for Nigeria and scored 18 international goals.
His experience outside Nigeria has given him first-hand exposure to modern football structures and the commercial models used by successful clubs and leagues around the world.
That experience appears to have influenced his belief that Nigeria needs to embrace a new approach.
The former Super Eagles star does not believe younger leadership should mean simply putting younger faces in existing positions.
Rather, he wants people with fresh ideas and an understanding of how modern football operates to have a genuine influence on the direction of the game.
The mention of Seyi Tinubu is therefore likely to generate further debate, particularly at a time when the Federal Government and football stakeholders are discussing the future structure of the NFF.
For Martins, however, the fundamental issue is not personality.
It is whether the people entrusted with Nigerian football understand what is required to move the game forward.
As the country begins another attempt to reform its football administration, Martins believes the opportunity should be used to open the door to a younger generation.
“We need younger leadership.”
And for the former Super Eagles star, bringing fresh minds into Nigerian football could be the first step towards building a system that understands where the modern game is heading — rather than one that remains trapped in the past.
