Amaju Pinnick’s bid to retain his seat on the FIFA Council has ended in disappointment, as he fell just one vote short of re-election. The former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president garnered 28 votes at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt, but ultimately lost out to Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, who secured the final two available slots with 29 votes each.
The six elected African members of the FIFA Council are:
1.Faouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) – 49 votes
2.Hani Abou Ridha (Egypt) – 35 votes
3.Djibrilla Hima (Niger) – 35 votes
4.Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) – 29 votes
5.Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti) – 29 votes
6.Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) – 30 votes (women’s seat)
Pinnick’s loss marks the end of his tenure on FIFA’s highest decision-making body, which began in 2021. He was the third Nigerian to hold the position, following in the footsteps of late Etubom Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu.
