The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed confidence that former NFF President and current FIFA Council member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, will retain his seat in the upcoming FIFA Council elections set to take place on Wednesday in Cairo.
In a statement issued less than 24 hours before the vote, the NFF reaffirmed that Pinnick has strong backing from the Nigerian government and significant support from CAF’s General Assembly.
The elections will be held as part of the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly, where key leadership positions, including CAF Executive Committee members and FIFA Council representatives, will be decided.
Tough Competition in FIFA Council Election
Pinnick will be competing against some of the most influential football administrators in Africa for one of the five available seats. Among his main rivals are Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa and Egypt’s Hany Abo Rida, both of whom have been prominent figures in African football governance.
Other candidates vying for a seat on the FIFA Council include Yacine Idriss Diallo (Ivory Coast), Augustin Senghor (Senegal), Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou (Niger), Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), Mathurin De Chacus (Benin), and Souleman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti).
Africa currently holds seven seats on the FIFA Council, one of which is automatically allocated to the CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, who is running unopposed for re-election.
Additionally, one seat is reserved for a female representative, with CAF 5th Vice-President Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) and Isha Johansen (Sierra Leone) set to contest for the position.
Nigeria’s Strong Support for Pinnick
NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has already arrived in Cairo to represent Nigeria at the elections, accompanied by NFF Secretary General Dr Mohammed Sanusi.
The Nigerian government has also demonstrated its commitment to Pinnick’s candidacy, with senior officials such as Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, Chief Executive Officer of the commission, present in Cairo.
The support for Pinnick aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to maintain a strong presence in international football governance.
His continued membership in the FIFA Council is seen as crucial for Nigeria’s influence in global football decision-making.
Other Key CAF Executive Committee Elections
Beyond the FIFA Council race, elections for the CAF Executive Committee will also take place, with most positions already decided through zonal arrangements. However, the COSAFA region remains competitive, with four candidates—Elvis Chetty (Seychelles), Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar), Mohamed Ally Samir (Mauritius), and Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique)—contesting for two available seats.
Meanwhile, former Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o, who successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be reinstated in the election, is running unopposed for the UNIFFAC (Central Africa) region.
Other unopposed candidates include:
– Mustapha Ishola Raji (Liberia) – WAFU A Zone
– Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (Ghana) – WAFU B Zone
– Sadhi Walid (Algeria) – UNAF Zone (North Africa)
– Bestine Kazadi (Democratic Republic of Congo) – Women’s seat
High Stakes as CAF and FIFA Elections Draw Near
With the elections set to shape the future of African football governance, all eyes are on Cairo as the continent’s football stakeholders make their final decisions.
The FIFA Council positions are expected to be hotly contested, with only five of the 10 male candidates set to secure a place.
For Nigeria, securing a continued presence on FIFA’s highest governing body remains a top priority, and Pinnick’s experience and political acumen are seen as key assets in navigating the intense competition.
