Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Melvin Pinnick has failed in his bid to retain his seat in the FIFA Council after a fiercely contested election at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday.
Pinnick, who had served on the FIFA Council since 2021, fell agonizingly short of re-election, missing out by just one vote.
With Africa allotted seven seats—including one reserved for CAF president—the race was intense, with top football administrators across the continent vying for the coveted positions.
Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa led the polls with 49 votes, securing his place with ease. He was followed by Egypt’s Hani Abou Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, both with 35 votes.
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Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya claimed the fourth seat with 29 votes, while Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi secured the final spot—also with 29 votes. Pinnick finished just outside the qualification zone with 28 votes, narrowly missing out on retaining his position.
Other unsuccessful candidates included Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga (19 votes), Guinea’s Yacine Diallo (18 votes), and Senegal’s Augustin Senghor (13 votes). Mathurin de Chacus of Benin withdrew before the final count.
On the women’s side, Kanizat Ibrahim of Comoros won her seat with 30 votes, while Burundi’s Lydia Nsekera (13 votes) and Sierra Leone’s Isha Johansen (7 votes) fell short.
Pinnick’s loss marks a significant shift in Africa’s football leadership. Having been a key figure in FIFA and CAF politics, his exit will reshape Nigeria’s influence in global football governance.
