‘This is a cheap blackmail’ – Sani Lulu defends NFF in Eriksson’s corruption allegations

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Sani Lulu Abdullahi has vehemently denied all allegations of corruption leveled against NFF under his leadership between 2006 to 2010.

Amodu Shuaibu had been fired earlier despite qualifying Nigeria for the South Africa 2010 World Cup and Nigeria attempted to recruit Swedish and former England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson and compatriot Lars Lagerback in the build-up to the showpiece in South Africa, both alleging been asked to part with some of their salaries.

In his brutal response, Sani Lulu insisted that the claims as contained in the autobiography written by Swede titled “My Story” was cheap blackmail, stressing that nothing like this happened under his watch as the NFF President.

“This is cheap blackmail by the white man for Eriksson to point accusing fingers at my administration. He should point out who did it with him. He is accusing the whole country,” Lulu told Brila FM.

“When someone says leaders of Nigeria football. Where did you define your leadership? For him to describe it as Danni Lulu’s regime. He can’t paint my administration badly. I was too good for Nigeria. I did my best and still waiting for those who have done more than I did.”

Lars Lagerback was later on appointed as coach of Super Eagles to the 2010 World Cup where Nigeria crashed out from the group stage, losing to Argentina (1-0) and Greece (2-1), before playing out a 2-2 draw with South Korea.