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IMAGE – Amaju Pinnick. PHOTO: AOIFOOTBALL
Nigeria’s Amaju Melvin Pinnick is among the candidates vying to retain his seat on the FIFA Council as elections take place at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday.
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Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications, Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), in a statement on Tuesday, said that Pinnick is competing alongside Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida, with a total of 10 candidates vying for five available seats.
The election will be held at the Marriott Mena House.
Africa has seven seats on the FIFA Council, including one reserved for the CAF President and another for a female representative.
Kanizat Ibrahim from the Comoros Islands and Isha Johansen from Sierra Leone are contesting for the women’s seat.
Other candidates for the FIFA Council seats include Yacine Idriss Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire), Augustin Senghor (Senegal), Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou (Niger Republic), Andrew Kamanga (Zambia), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), Mathurin De Chacus (Benin Republic), and Souleman Hassan Waberi (Djibouti).
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CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who is unopposed for a second term, will retain his position. Each of CAF’s 54 Member Associations will vote for five male representatives and one female representative.
NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau will vote on behalf of Nigeria, accompanied by NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
The Nigerian government, which endorsed Pinnick’s candidacy in 2024, is also represented by National Sports Commission Chairman Alhaji Shehu Dikko and Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade.
Meanwhile, the CAF Executive Committee elections have fewer contested seats due to zonal arrangements. However, competition is expected in the COSAFA region, where four candidates—Elvis Chetty (Seychelles), Alfred Randriamanampisoa (Madagascar), Mohamed Ally Samir (Mauritius), and Feizal Ismael Sidat (Mozambique)—are contesting two positions.
Samuel Eto’o (UNIFFAC), Mustapha Ishola Raji (WAFU A), Kurt Edwin-Simeon Okraku (WAFU B), and Sadhi Walid (UNAF) are unopposed in their respective zones. Bestine Kazadi of DR Congo is the sole candidate for the women’s seat on the CAF Exco.
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