Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA connection: Former NFF boss unseated for council re-election

Amaju Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), lost the Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Assembly elections in Cairo on March 12, 2025, by a single vote, and therefore failed in his attempt to keep his place on the FIFA Council.

The FIFA Council's final position was won by Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti, defeating former NFF president Amaju Pinnick by a single vote.

Souleiman Waberi of Djibouti defeated Pinnick, who had been a member of FIFA's decision-making committee since 2021, with 29 votes to Pinnick's 28.

Pinnick, who had held the position since 2021, suffered a setback when the CAF General Assembly election changed Africa's representation in FIFA.

Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco won the most votes (49), followed by Hani Rida of Egypt and Djibrilla Hamidou of Niger, who each received 35 votes to gain seats. Ahmed Yahya and Waberi of Mauritania also won seats with 29 votes.

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For Pinnick, who had hoped to continue advocating for Africa's interests in international football governance, the defeat is a significant blow.

Isha Johansen received seven votes, Lydia Nsekera received thirteen, and Comoros' Kanizat Ibrahim won thirty votes in the women's division.

Nigeria now has no representative in FIFA's powerful decision-making body as a result of his defeat.