In a dramatic and highly competitive election at the 14th Confederation of African Football (CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, fell just short of securing re-election to the FIFA Council.
Pinnick, who has been a member of FIFA’s highest decision-making body since 2021, was denied a second term by the narrowest of margins—just one vote. He secured 28 votes, while Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi claimed the final seats with 29 votes each.
A Fiercely Contested Election
The election saw African football delegates cast their votes to determine the continent’s representatives on the FIFA Council, a crucial body that shapes global football policies. Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco emerged as the top candidate, securing a commanding 49 votes. Hani Abou Rida (Egypt) and Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger) followed, each with 35 votes.
With the race for the final two seats being extremely tight, Yahya and Waberi barely edged out Pinnick, whose 28 votes left him agonizingly close but ultimately unsuccessful in his bid for re-election.
A Setback for Pinnick’s Global Football Ambitions
Having served on the FIFA Council for the past three years, Pinnick had hoped to continue influencing football governance at the highest level. His loss signals a temporary setback in his aspirations within international football administration.
Elsewhere in the election, Andrew Kamanga (19 votes), Yacine Diallo (18 votes), and Augustin Senghor (13 votes) also failed to make the cut, while Mathurin de Chacus withdrew before the final count.
What Next for Pinnick?
Despite this setback, Pinnick remains a key figure in African football administration. With his experience and connections, he could still play a role in shaping the future of the game, whether within CAF, Nigerian football, or even a future attempt at regaining a seat on the FIFA Council.
For now, however, his tenure at FIFA’s highest table comes to an end—by the slimmest of margins.
