Posted by Chinenye on Fri 11th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
Former Super Eagles star Obafemi Martins is mixing football with politics as he prepares to stage a major youth tournament later this year.
(Nigerian football player Obafemi Martins. Photo by Xia lei / Imaginechina / Imaginechina via AFP)
Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins is organizing a youth football tournament in November to support President Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign.
Martins said during a television interview on Thursday that he's funding the tournament himself, which he's calling the "Renewed Hope Youth tournament."
The tournament will feature teams from all six geopolitical zones plus two to three additional teams.
He said the tournament is meant to help President Tinubu but also to create opportunities for young Nigerians.
Martins wants to give Nigerian youth a chance and show support for the president's work.
The name "Renewed Hope" was Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima's campaign slogan during the 2023 election.
The government has since used the phrase repeatedly for different programmes and initiatives.
Political groups backing Tinubu for 2027 have also adopted it for their campaigns.