Amaju Pinnick, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has failed in his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council. At the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly held on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, Pinnick fell short of securing enough votes to retain his seat among the six African representatives on the council.

Pinnick garnered 28 votes, just one vote behind Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, who clinched the final two available slots.

Elected African Members of the FIFA Council

The six African representatives 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 Legacy in FIFA and Nigerian Football

Pinnick made history as the third Nigerian to be elected to the FIFA Council, following Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu. He first secured his seat in March 2021 during the 43rd CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco.

Before his FIFA role, Pinnick served two consecutive terms as president of the NFF, from 2014 to 2022, before being succeeded by Ibrahim Gusau.

FIFA Council

The FIFA Council is the governing body responsible for making key decisions between FIFA Congress meetings. It comprises 37 members elected for renewable four-year terms.

CAF Leadership Update

In a related development, Patrice Motsepe was re-elected as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for a second term.