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Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins believes Nigerian football could benefit from a change in leadership and has pointed to Seyi Tinubu as someone he feels could make a difference.
Martins made the point while discussing the direction of Nigerian football and the type of person he believes could bring a fresh approach to the administration of the game.
For the former striker, one of the important qualities is having someone young enough to understand the expectations of today's Nigerians while also knowing how the football system works.
That was what led Martins to speak positively about Seyi Tinubu and what he could potentially bring to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) if he were given the opportunity to lead the organisation.
“He’s young and he understands what Nigerian people want. I think he can change that. He can change that. He can change that", he said.
Martins was speaking on the Obi One Podcast, where the discussion turned to whether Seyi Tinubu was already doing enough to contribute to the development of Nigerian football.
The former Super Eagles forward was quick to acknowledge the limits of Tinubu's current position. He pointed out that Tinubu is not the President and, as a result, does not have the authority that would come with being in charge of the country's football federation.
However, Martins still believes the efforts being made are worth recognising.
“I mean, he’s not the President, but still he’s making an effort", he said.
The comments reflect Martins' preference for a younger approach to the management of Nigerian football. Rather than focusing only on experience in football administration, his argument places importance on understanding the changing expectations of Nigerians and being willing to act on them.
The NFF is responsible for managing the country's national teams and handling several major areas of Nigerian football. Its leadership has often come under scrutiny, with questions regularly raised about how the sport is organised and how decisions affecting the national teams are made.
Martins' comments come from the perspective of someone who knows Nigerian football from inside the game. He played for the Super Eagles and enjoyed a lengthy club career in Europe, featuring for some of the continent's biggest teams.
His experience as a player means he has seen different sides of the sport, from playing at the highest level to being part of the Nigerian national team setup.
For Martins, having younger leadership could offer a different way of approaching some of the problems facing the game.
His choice of Seyi Tinubu is particularly notable because he sees him as someone who understands what Nigerians want from their football. Martins also appears to believe that Tinubu's willingness to make an effort, despite not occupying the country's highest political office, is something that should not be overlooked.
There is no indication from Martins' comments that Seyi Tinubu is currently set to take over the NFF. Instead, the former striker was expressing his view on the kind of person he believes could help change the direction of Nigerian football.
For now, the NFF remains under its existing leadership, but Martins has made his preference known. In his view, giving a young person who understands both Nigerians and the football system an opportunity could be one way of bringing about the changes he feels the sport needs.
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