MARTINS’ SEYI TINUBU NFF PUSH SPARKS ANGER — UDEZE BLASTS FORMER EAGLES STAR

Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has triggered a storm of controversy in Nigerian football after publicly suggesting that Seyi Tinubu could be the man to lead the Nigeria Football Federation following the dramatic resignation of former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and his board.

Martins made the controversial proposal on The Obi One Podcast, hosted by former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel, arguing that Nigerian football needs a younger generation of administrators who understand both the game and the system.

But the suggestion has immediately drawn fierce opposition, with former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze dismissing it as a “bad idea” and questioning the basis for Martins’ choice.

“For me, it’s a bad idea,” Udeze said on Brila FM, adding that if Martins genuinely wanted younger football administrators, there were several qualified former internationals he could have named.

The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Nigerian football. Gusau, NFF general secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi and other board members resigned amid mounting criticism of the federation’s leadership and a string of failures involving Nigeria’s national teams.

The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Super Falcons’ failure to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup intensified calls for a fundamental overhaul of football administration.

With the old NFF leadership now out, the National Sports Commission is moving towards a normalisation process backed by FIFA, creating a potentially decisive battle over who gets to shape the future of Nigerian football.

Martins’ endorsement of Seyi Tinubu has therefore ignited a much bigger argument: should Nigerian football be opened to fresh leadership based on competence and football experience—or risk becoming another arena for political influence and connections?

The backlash has spread across social media, with critics accusing Martins of promoting nepotism and political interests rather than football credentials.

One critic, Anthony Azubuike, accused Martins of having “goofed, big time,” while another social media user, Aina Ariyo, alleged that Martins’ endorsement was linked to Seyi Tinubu’s reported political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Martins, however, did not explain why Seyi Tinubu was his preferred choice over former Nigerian internationals with direct football administration and technical experience.

As Nigerian football enters a period of uncertainty following the collapse of the Gusau-led administration, Martins’ intervention has added another explosive question to the unfolding crisis