The Cairo election of the FIFA Council on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, during the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly yielded a dramatic outcome when African voices on FIFA’s ruling body took a dramatic turn.
In a surprise reversal, no Anglophone from Africa was elected to the seat, marking a strong turn of dominance to Arab and Francophone nations in leading football in the continent.
Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa, a long-time favorite, secured a seat with overwhelming support. His growing influence, backed by Morocco’s massive football investments and strong ties with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, made his victory almost inevitable as he garnered 49 votes.
Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya also clinched a spot, further cementing Arab dominance in the elections. Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi, known for his close connections with FIFA leadership, was another successful candidate, ensuring the representation of East Africa’s Francophone bloc. Yahya and Waberi polled 29 votes each.
Seasoned Egyptian football official Hani Abou Rida came back, leveraging his extensive experience and connections in FIFA as he got 35 votes.
Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, popularly known as “Pele,” of Niger did the opposite by clinching the final spot, mirroring Francophone cohesion in African football politics with 35 votes.
This outcome denies Anglophone Africa—especially big players like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa—direct representation in FIFA’s ruling body for the first time in decades.
The absence of strong voices like Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick raises questions on how the policies concerning English-speaking African nations will be determined.
With power dynamics shifting to Arab and Francophone nations, African football is facing a new leadership to deal with.
How that is going to impact continental policies and development is to be witnessed, but until then, the Anglophone camp needs to re-strategize for the next elections.
