Former Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins has endorsed Seyi Tinubu as a possible future president of the Nigeria Football Federation, while ex-international Harrison Jalla is calling for a recognised former player to lead the organisation as Nigerian football faces an ongoing governance crisis.
Key takeaways
- Martins believes Seyi Tinubu has the youth and understanding needed for a senior role in Nigerian football.
- Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has not announced any intention to seek an NFF post.
- Harrison Jalla wants a qualified former footballer to become NFF president for the first time since organised football began in Nigeria in 1945.
- Jalla has urged retired Nigerian players to unite behind one presidential candidate and agree on nominees for other board positions.
Martins backs Seyi Tinubu
Martins made his case during the Obi One Podcast, presented by former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi. The ex-Inter Milan and Newcastle United attacker said Seyi Tinubu has the attributes required to assume an important leadership position within Nigerian football.
Martins said he could see Seyi Tinubu becoming NFF president, describing him as a young man who understands the expectations of Nigerians and is already taking steps in that direction, although he stressed that Tinubu is not currently the federation’s leader.
When asked more broadly about the qualities needed to improve the game, Martins focused on age and institutional knowledge rather than returning specifically to Seyi Tinubu. He said Nigerian football required a young person who understood both the sport and the system and could provide practical assistance.
Martins did not explain which initiatives he had in mind, and Seyi Tinubu has made no public declaration that he plans to contest an NFF election. Martins played for Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and appeared at three Africa Cup of Nations competitions.
Jalla demands ex-players’ leadership
Meanwhile, Prince Harrison Jalla, chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative and a former Nigeria international, said the federation’s presidency should be entrusted to a properly qualified ex-footballer. He argued that this would be a historic step, as no such player has led the NFF since organised football was established in Nigeria in 1945.
Jalla believes the habits developed during a playing career prepare former footballers for administration. He pointed to the discipline of shared camps, regular travel and intensive training, comparing the coaches who guided players to university professors whose instruction builds professional character.
He said no genuine, highly qualified former player had ever been given a leadership role in Nigerian football, whether through an election or an appointment.
Jalla also accused the federation of being controlled in recent years by people he considered unsuitable for the job. He alleged that they had mishandled money and deprived national-team players of payments owed to them, including allowances and match bonuses.
He urged retired Nigerian footballers, both within the country and overseas, to unite around one contender for the NFF presidency and work together on the selection of board members. Jalla described President Tinubu’s involvement in football governance as an opportunity for former players to play a more direct role in reshaping the federation.
“The campaign begins now,” Jalla said.
