Obafemi Martins, the former Super Eagles striker, announced plans on Thursday to host a youth football tournament. He made the disclosure during an interview on TVC. The event, which he called the Renewed Hope tournament, will take place in November. Martins said the tournament would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
Martins explained that the competition would feature teams from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. He added that he planned to include two or three extra teams. The former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward confirmed he would fund the entire tournament himself. When asked about the timing and funding, Martins stated, “Yes, I’m doing it in November.”
Martins linked the tournament directly to the campaign. He said, “There’s a tournament that I’m doing for His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I’m doing for his campaign, the renewal youth tournament, and I’m doing it with, I think, the geopolitical zone, which is six, and I’m adding more two to three teams with it.”
He also stressed a broader goal. Martins noted that the initiative would create opportunities for young Nigerians through football.
He added, “I think I’m just happy to do it for the president with all his hard work and all that. And that is not just for the president, it’s for the Nigerians and the Nigerian youth as well; how we can help them.”
The statement came weeks after Martins had publicly backed Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, for a future leadership role at the Nigeria Football Federation.
Martins presented the November tournament as both a campaign gesture and a platform to assist youth development. He confirmed the self-funded plans without providing further operational details during the interview.
