Ghana, Italy or Nigeria: Obafemi Martins weighs in on his son’s international future  

Former Newcastle United and Nigeria star Obafemi Martins has revealed his preference for his son, Kevin Martins, to represent Nigeria over Ghana or Italy in international football. 

The former striker shared his thoughts during an interview in Marrakesh earlier this week.  

"Hopefully yes. I mean he's half-Nigerian so we will see," Martins said when asked if his son would play for the Super Eagles.

“When I used to play (for Nigeria), we have a lot of strikers that scored goals…. We played as a team.”

“Hopefully my son represents Nigeria, he’s half Nigerian.”

Former Newcastle and Inter Milan forward, Akinwunmi Martins on Super Eagles current squad and his son’s choice of… pic.twitter.com/kOuVRE9spL

— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) December 16, 2024

Kevin Martins, a talented 19-year-old forward born in Milan, is eligible to represent three nations: Nigeria through his father, Ghana through his mother, and Italy by birth. 

Martins is the son of former Nigerian footballer Obafemi Martins and Ghanaian-Italian Abigail Barwuah, who is also the sister of footballer Mario Balotelli.

The Italian Football Federation has already made the first move, capping him at the U-15 level. However, Kevin is not yet provisionally cap-tied to Italy as those appearances were in friendly matches and not at the senior level. He plays as a winger for Serie A club Monza. 

Football runs deep in Kevin’s family. His father, Obafemi Martins, is a celebrated figure in Nigerian football, having scored 18 goals in 42 appearances for the Super Eagles. 

His maternal uncle, Mario Balotelli, is a former Manchester City and Italian international striker, while his late paternal uncle, Oladipupo Martins, was also a professional footballer.  

Known for his pace and dribbling prowess, Kevin has drawn comparisons to his father not just for his playing style but also for his striking resemblance.  

Kevin’s budding career has already shown promise. In November 2019, he made an impressive debut for Italy’s youth national team, coming off the bench to score in a 4-1 victory over Portugal. Currently, he plays for Monza in Italy, further sharpening his skills and gaining valuable experience.  

The decision on Kevin’s international future is a highly anticipated one, with all three nations having strong claims. Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars both boast deep footballing traditions, while Italy’s La Nazionale offers a competitive and historic football programme.  

Obafemi Martins’s remarks signal a clear preference for Nigeria, but the ultimate decision will rest with Kevin. Fans of all three nations will be watching his next move keenly as his career progresses.  

For now, Kevin Martins continues to carry the weight of his illustrious surname with pride, showcasing the talent and potential to follow in the footsteps of his footballing family.