Pinnick Out of FIFA Council Race

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has been ousted from his position on the FIFA Council after falling short by a single vote in the elections held during the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.

Pinnick, who sought re-election to the 37-member FIFA Council, secured 28 votes but was edged out by Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, who claimed the final available seat with 29 votes.

The keenly contested election saw Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa dominate the polls with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hani Abou Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou tied in second place with 35 votes each. The remaining two slots were filled by Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Waberi, both amassing 29 votes.

Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga finished in seventh place with 19 votes, followed by Ivory Coast’s Yacine Diallo, who garnered 18 votes. Senegal’s Augustin Senghor came last among the candidates with 13 votes. Prior to the voting process, Benin’s Mathurin de Chacus withdrew from the race.

In the women’s category, Comoros Islands’ Kanizat Ibrahim emerged victorious with 30 votes, defeating Lydia Nsekera, who managed 13 votes.

The election, conducted at the Marriott Mena House, saw delegates from all 54 CAF member associations casting ballots to select five male representatives and one female representative. Nigeria’s vote was cast by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, who was accompanied by NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.

Pinnick’s loss is a significant blow to Nigerian football administration, as he was considered a major contender alongside Lekjaa and Abou Rida. His tenure on the FIFA Council, where he played a crucial role in advocating for African football, has now come to an end.

Meanwhile, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who ran unopposed for a second term, retains his automatic seat on the FIFA Council, as mandated by the governing body’s rules. Africa is allocated seven spots on the council, with one reserved for the CAF President and another designated for a female representative.

The newly elected officials will be responsible for shaping global football policies and making key decisions on the sport’s development worldwide.