AMAJU PINNICK LOSES FIFA COUNCIL RE-ELECTION BY ONE VOTE 

Former Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has lost his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council, falling short by just one vote. At the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, March 12, Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi secured the final seat with 29 votes, edging out Pinnick, who garnered 28.

Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa led the election with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hani Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hamidou each received 35 votes. Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Waberi also secured their places with 29 votes apiece.

The outcome marks a setback for Pinnick, who had been a member of FIFA’s highest decision-making body since 2021 and was seeking to extend his tenure.

In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim of Comoros clinched the seat with 30 votes, ahead of Lydia Nsekera (13 votes) and Isha Johansen (7 votes).