NFF blasts Okpala for comment

The Nigeria Football Federation has slammed former Super Eagles assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala for claiming NFF president, Aminu Maigari, had boasted that not even President Goodluck Jonathan could compel him (Maigari) to return him (Okpala) to the national team.

The NFF described Okpala’s claim as blackmail of the NFF president.

“Mr Sylvanus Okpala must come out clearly to tell the world at which forum the NFF president made such a statement. It is infuriating that a former employee of the NFF would go to that length to try and blackmail the NFF president and the Executive Committee,” the NFF said in a statement.

“Mr. Okpala’s statement was wholly in bad faith and was a poor attempt at showcasing the NFF president in bad light. Maigari is universally known to be, as a result of his background, respectful of persons in authority and would never issue such a statement.

“The NFF is taken aback that Mr. Okpala also went ahead to say that the NFF killed his mother. How could we have done that? I remember quite well that when Mr. Okpala lost his dear mother, the NFF sent him a letter of condolence.

“He is commenting on a case that is in court, which leaves him open to contempt. The NFF never wanted to comment on this matter but for the misconduct of Mr. Okpala in bringing the name of President Goodluck Jonathan into it.”