Former NFF president Amaju Pinnick lost his FIFA Council re-election bid by one vote, with Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi securing the final seat. The CAF General Assembly election reshaped Africa’s representation in FIFA, marking a setback for Pinnick, who had served since 2021.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has failed in his bid to retain his seat on the FIFA Council after losing by just one vote in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly elections held in Cairo on March 12, 2025.
Pinnick, who had been a member of FIFA’s decision-making body since 2021, was edged out by Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, who secured 29 votes against Pinnick’s 28. The election saw Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa emerge as the top winner with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hani Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hamidou each garnered 35 votes to claim their seats. Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Waberi also secured positions with 29 votes.
The loss is a major setback for Pinnick, who had aimed to continue representing Africa’s interests in global football governance. His defeat also means Nigeria now lacks a representative in FIFA’s influential decision-making body.
In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim of Comoros emerged victorious with 30 votes, defeating Lydia Nsekera, who managed 13 votes, and Isha Johansen, who secured 7 votes. The election results have reshaped Africa’s representation in FIFA, with new voices set to influence key football policies moving forward.
Pinnick’s loss raises questions about Nigeria’s football diplomacy on the global stage and what the future holds for its leadership in international football administration.
