Nigeria’s Amaju Melvin Pinnick has narrowly lost his bid to retain a seat on the FIFA Council, falling short by just one vote in the election held during the 14th CAF Extraordinary Congress in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday.
The former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) garnered 28 votes, finishing behind Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleman Hassan Waberi, who secured 29 votes each to claim seats on the prestigious panel.
Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa led the voting with an overwhelming 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hany Abou Rida and Niger Republic’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou both earned 35 votes to also secure their spots.
Joining them as Africa’s representatives on the FIFA Council is Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros, who clinched the women’s seat with 30 votes.
She overcame former FIFA Council and IOC member Lydia Nsekera, who received 13 votes, and incumbent Isha Johansen, who managed just seven.
Meanwhile, Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Yacine Idriss Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire), and Augustin Senghor (Senegal) fell short with 19, 18, and 13 votes, respectively, while Benin Republic’s Mathurin De Chacus withdrew from the race before voting began.
READ ALSO: Manchester United Announce Plans For New 100,000-Seat Stadium
Africa has seven seats at the FIFA Council, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe who was reelected on Wednesday, guaranteed a seat while a seat is reserved for a woman.
The Nigerian football administrator narrowly lost out in the election, scoring 28 votes, one short of 29 scored by Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Djibouti’s Souleymane Waberi.
The elected FIFA Council Seat Members are:
1- Fouzi Lekja : 49 votes
2- Hani Abou Ridha : 35 votes
3- Djibrilla Hima : 35 votes
4- Ahmed Yahya : 29 votes
5-Souleymane Waberi : 29 votes.
Women slot:
Kanozat Ibrahim: 30 Votes
Those who lost out in the election are:
Amaju Pinnick: 28 votes
Andrew Kamanga: 19 votes
Yacine Diallo: 18 votes
Augustin Senghor: 13 votes
Mathurin de Chacus Pulled out
Pinnick was first elected to the FIFA Council Seat in March 2021 during the 43rd CAF Ordinary General Assembly which was held in Rabat, the Moroccan capital.
He is the third Nigerian to be elected to the FIFA council. Late Etubom Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu were the other persons from the West African nation to have occupied that post.
Motsepe secured a second term, meaning he would serve a second four-year term as CAF boss.
Motsepe was elected by acclamation in Morocco four years ago, succeeding Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who had been suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.