Amaju Pinnick Set to Retain FIFA Council Seat

Cairo, Egypt  —   Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick is poised to retain his position as a member of the FIFA Council, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares for its crucial elections.

Pinnick, a former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is among the contenders for five available seats on the FIFA Council. The election will be conducted at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of CAF on Wednesday at the Marriott Mena House, Cairo.

In addition to Pinnick, Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida are also vying for positions, alongside seven other candidates from across Africa. With Africa allocated seven seats on the FIFA Council, CAF President’s position is secured, while one seat is exclusively reserved for a female representative. Kanizat Ibrahim from the Comoros Islands will contest this category against Isha Johansen of Sierra Leone.

The election process will see all 54 CAF Member Associations voting for five male candidates and one female representative. Among the other notable candidates in the race are Ivorian Yacine Idriss Diallo, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor, Niger Republic’s Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya, Benin’s Mathurin De Chacus, and Djibouti’s Souleman Hassan Waberi.

Representing Nigeria in the voting process is NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, who arrived in Cairo on Sunday alongside NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi.

The Nigerian government has fully backed Pinnick’s candidacy, with the Presidency officially endorsing his bid in July 2024. Representing Nigeria at the CAF General Assembly are Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and Director-General Bukola Olopade.

Unlike the FIFA Council election, the race for CAF Executive Committee seats has been less competitive due to zonal arrangements, with most candidates running unopposed. However, in Southern Africa, an intense contest is expected, as multiple candidates vie for the few available seats.

With strong government support and experience in football administration, Pinnick remains a formidable candidate to retain his place in the FIFA Council.

By Taiwo  Olatinwo | March 11, 2025