Former Nigeria international Obafemi Martins has opened up about the physical challenges he endured during his illustrious playing career, revealing that he competed at the highest level while carrying metal implants in his legs for nearly a decade.
The former Nigeria striker, renowned for his blistering pace and clinical finishing, shared the revelation while sending words of encouragement to fellow Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface, who recently underwent successful knee surgery.
Martins expressed deep empathy for the young attacker, stressing the importance of patience, discipline, and proper recovery during the rehabilitation process.
Drawing from his experience, the former Inter Milan and Newcastle United forward reflected on the mental and physical battles he faced while managing long-term injury issues throughout his career.
“I played with metal in my legs for nine years,” Martins revealed, highlighting the sacrifices he made to continue competing at the top level.
His message served as both a show of solidarity and a reminder of the resilience required to overcome serious injuries in professional football.
Boniface, one of Nigeria’s most exciting attacking talents, is now focused on his recovery, with Martins’ testimony offering inspiration and reassurance as he works toward a full return to action.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
