Amaju Pinnick Falls Short in FIFA Council Re-Election Bid

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has lost his re-election bid for a seat on the FIFA Council, missing out by a single vote.

At the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, Pinnick secured 28 votes—one vote shy of Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, who claimed the final two spots among Africa’s six representatives.

Who Made the Cut?

The six African officials elected to the FIFA Council are:

Faouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)

Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)

Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros)

Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti)

Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger)

Hani Abo Rida (Egypt)

Pinnick’s FIFA Journey

Pinnick made history as the third Nigerian to serve on the FIFA Council, following Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu. He first won the seat in March 2021 during the 43rd CAF General Assembly in Morocco. Before that, he led the NFF for two terms (2014-2022) before handing over to Ibrahim Gusau.

What is the FIFA Council?

The FIFA Council is responsible for major football governance decisions in between FIFA Congress sessions. It comprises 37 members elected for renewable four-year terms.

CAF Presidency Update

Meanwhile, South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as CAF president for a second term.