Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has failed in his bid to retain his seat on the FIFA Council following elections held today at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.
Pinnick’s fate, along with that of several other candidates, rested on the ballots cast by African football delegates in what was a fiercely contested election to determine the continent’s representatives on the FIFA Council.
Fouzi Lekjaa topped the poll with 49 votes, securing his seat comfortably. Hani Abou Rida and Djibrilla Hima Hamidou followed with 35 votes each, while Ahmed Yahya claimed a spot with 29 votes. The final place went to Souleiman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti, who also secured 29 votes — leaving Pinnick agonizingly short with 28 votes, just one vote away from success.
Pinnick, who has served on the FIFA Council since 2021, had hoped to extend his influence in global football governance but fell at the final hurdle.
Elsewhere, Andrew Kamanga (19 votes), Yacine Diallo (18 votes), and Augustin Senghor (13 votes) also fell short, while Mathurin de Chacus withdrew before the final count.
In the women’s race, Kanizat Ibrahim emerged victorious with 30 votes, while Lydia Nsekera (13 votes) and Isha Johansen (7 votes) missed out.
With Africa holding seven seats on the FIFA Council — including one reserved for the CAF president — Pinnick’s exit marks a shift in the balance of power within African football leadership.
