Amaju Pinnick Loses FIFA Council Seat by One Vote
Amaju Pinnick Loses FIFA Council Seat by One Vote in Tight CAF Election.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has lost his seat on the FIFA Council after falling short by just one vote in the elections held at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.
Pinnick Narrowly Misses Re-Election
Pinnick, who was seeking re-election to the 37-member FIFA Council, secured 28 votes, narrowly missing out to Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, who claimed the fifth and final seat with 29 votes.
The keenly contested election saw Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa emerge as the clear frontrunner with 49 votes, followed by Egypt’s Hani Abou Rida and Niger Republic’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, who both garnered 35 votes. Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Waberi completed the successful candidates’ list with 29 votes each.
Other Candidates and Election Outcomes
Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga finished seventh with 19 votes, while Yacine Diallo of Ivory Coast and Senegal’s Augustin Senghor secured 18 and 13 votes, respectively. Mathurin de Chacus of Benin Republic withdrew from the race before voting began.
In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim of Comoros Islands triumphed with 30 votes, defeating Lydia Nsekera, who secured 13 votes.
The election, held at the Marriott Mena House, saw all 54 CAF Member Associations voting to elect five male and one female representative. Nigeria’s vote was cast by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, accompanied by NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.
Impact on Nigerian Football Administration
Pinnick’s loss represents a major setback for Nigerian football governance, as he was considered a strong contender alongside Lekjaa and Abou Rida. His departure from the FIFA Council marks the end of his tenure as a key African voice in global football administration.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who ran unopposed for a second term, retains his automatic seat on the FIFA Council, as per FIFA regulations. Africa holds seven seats on the FIFA Council, with one reserved for the CAF President and another designated for a female representative.
The newly elected FIFA Council members will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global football, making key decisions on international football governance and development.
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