- Amaju Pinnick Falls Short: How One Vote Cost Nigeria a FIFA Council Seat.
- CAF Elections 2025: Full List of Africa’s FIFA Council Representatives.
- What’s Next for African Football? New FIFA Council Leaders and Their Agenda.
Amaju Melvin Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has narrowly lost his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council, missing out by just one vote during the 14th CAF Extraordinary Congress held in Cairo, Egypt, on March 12, 2025.
Pinnick, who initially secured his seat in 2021, garnered 28 votes, falling just short of Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi, who both secured 29 votes—the minimum required to claim a spot in FIFA’s highest decision-making body.
FIFA Council Elections: Africa’s Newly Elected Representatives
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The fiercely contested elections saw Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa dominate the polls, securing a commanding 49 votes. He was followed by:
Hany Abou Rida (Egypt) – 35 votes
Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger Republic) – 35 votes
Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) – 29 votes
Souleiman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti) – 29 votes
These five officials will join CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who was re-elected unopposed for a second term, as Africa’s representatives at FIFA.
Women’s FIFA Council Seat Secured by Kanizat Ibrahim
The women’s category saw Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) claim the female seat on the FIFA Council after securing 30 votes, defeating:
Lydia Nsekera (Former FIFA Council & IOC Member) – 13 votes
Isha Johansen (Incumbent) – 7 votes
Her victory solidifies her position as one of Africa’s top football administrators.
CAF Executive Committee Elections: Key Highlights
Apart from the FIFA Council elections, the CAF Executive Committee also saw new developments:
Madagascar’s Alfred Randriamanampisoa withdrew before the vote, leaving the contest for two COSAFA seats between:
Elvis Chetty (Seychelles)
Sobha Mohamed Ally Samir (Mauritius)
Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique)
Eventually, Sobha Samir and Feizal Sidat emerged victorious.
Several officials secured their positions unopposed, including:
Wallace Karia (Tanzania) – CECAFA Representative
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) – UNIFFAC Representative
Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia) – WAFU A Representative
Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (Ghana) – WAFU B Representative
Sadhi Walid – UNAF Representative
Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (DR Congo) – Female Representative
Full List of Africa’s FIFA Council Representatives (2025–2029)
Patrice Motsepe (South Africa) – CAF President
Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
Hany Abou Rida (Egypt)
Also Read: Motsepe Secures Another Term as CAF President Without Opposition
Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou (Niger Republic)
Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)
Souleiman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti)
Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) – Female Representative
A Setback for Pinnick and Nigerian Football
Pinnick’s failure to secure re-election is a significant setback in his international football administration career.
Having been a FIFA Council member since 2021, he played a key role in promoting Nigerian and African football at the global level.
His narrow loss means Nigeria will no longer have a direct representative on the FIFA Council—a blow to the country’s influence in world football.
This defeat will likely lead to strategic repositioning by the NFF and other stakeholders as they look toward future CAF and FIFA elections.
Final Thoughts
The 14th CAF Extraordinary Congress was a landmark event that reshaped African representation in FIFA’s decision-making body.
While Amaju Pinnick’s exit marks the end of an era for Nigeria, the newly elected members now carry the responsibility of advancing African football at the global level.
For the latest updates on African football governance:
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