Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, narrowly lost his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council, missing out by a single vote during the 14th Confederation of African Football (CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly held in Cairo, Egypt.
Pinnick secured 28 votes, just one short of the 29 votes obtained by Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi, who clinched the final two available seats on the council. Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa led the election with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hany Abou Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou each garnered 35 votes.
Having served on the FIFA Council since 2021, Pinnick was the third Nigerian to hold such a position, following Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu. His tenure was marked by efforts to enhance Nigeria’s standing in global football and to improve the administration of the sport within the country.
In the aftermath of the election, Pinnick expressed gratitude to his supporters, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He acknowledged the fierce nature of football politics and reflected on his journey from a volunteer at the 1999 FIFA U20 World Cup to a prominent football administrator.
Pinnick’s exit from the FIFA Council signifies a shift in Nigeria’s influence within global football’s decision-making processes. The outcome underscores the competitive nature of football administration and the importance of strategic alliances within the CAF and FIFA frameworks.
As Pinnick steps back from the FIFA Council, the focus turns to how Nigeria will navigate its role in international football governance. The country’s football community will be keenly observing the strategies employed to maintain and enhance Nigeria’s presence on the global stage.
