PeakNews Online
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has lost his bid for re-election into the FIFA Council, missing out by just one vote at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly held in Cairo on Wednesday.
Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi edged Pinnick out by securing 29 votes, while the Nigerian football administrator polled 28 votes, failing to retain his seat on FIFA’s highest decision-making body.
CAF FIFA Council Election Results
Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) – 49 votes
Hani Rida (Egypt) – 35 votes
Djibrilla Hamidou (Niger) – 35 votes
Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) – 29 votes
Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti) – 29 votes
Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria) – 28 votes (eliminated)
Missed Opportunity for Nigeria
Pinnick, who has been on the FIFA Council since 2021, had hoped to extend his tenure but fell short in a highly competitive race. His defeat means Nigeria loses its direct representation in global football governance at FIFA’s executive level.
Women’s FIFA Council Seat
In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros emerged victorious with 30 votes, defeating:
Lydia Nsekera (13 votes)
Isha Johansen (7 votes)
Pinnick’s loss is seen as a setback for Nigeria’s football influence within FIFA, but he remains an influential figure in African football administration.
Joe
