By Amaju Melvin Pinnick, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has lost his bid to retain a seat on the FIFA Council. The election took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly.
Pinnick, who was seen as a strong candidate, managed to secure 28 votes but finished in 7th place, just one vote shy of the last qualifying position. Only the top six candidates earned seats on the prestigious FIFA decision-making body.
The election saw Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa emerge as the highest vote-getter with 49 votes, followed by Egypt’s Hani Aboo Ridha and Niger’s Djibrilla Hima, who both received 35 votes. Comoros’ Kanizat Ibrahim (30 votes), Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya (29 votes), and Djibouti’s Souleymane Waberi (29 votes) rounded out the final six.
With Pinnick’s loss, Nigeria no longer has representation on FIFA’s top governing council, marking a setback for the country’s influence in global football politics. Pinnick had served on the council since 2021 and was seeking re-election to continue shaping football policies at the highest level.
His failure to secure a seat also reflects the growing competition among African football administrators, with countries like Morocco, Egypt, and Niger strengthening their positions within FIFA. Despite the setback, Pinnick remains a key figure in Nigerian and African football administration.
As Nigeria re-evaluates its football leadership strategies, attention now shifts to future opportunities for regaining a seat in FIFA’s governing structure.
