Amaju Pinnick loses bid for FIFA seat
By Olaolu Joseph
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has failed in his bid to retain his seat in the FIFA Council.
Pinnick lost in the election held in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday morning.
He secured 28 votes, one short of the 29 obtained by Souleiman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti, who claimed the final available spot in the FIFA Council.
His loss dashed Nigeria’s hopes of maintaining representation in the decision-making body of world football.
At the end of the election, the following candidates were elected into the FIFA Council:
- Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) – 49 votes
- Hani Abou Rida (Egypt) – 35 votes
- Djibrilla Hima (Niger) – 35 votes
- Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) – 30 votes
- Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) – 29 votes
- Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti) – 29 votes
The candidates who failed in their bids include:
- Amaju Pinnick (Nigeria) – 28 votes
- Andrew Kamanga (Zambia) – 19 votes
- Yacine Idriss Diallo (Ivory Coast) – 18 votes
- Augustin Senghor (Senegal) – 13 votes
- Lydia Nsekera (Burundi) – 13 votes
- Isha Johansen (Liberia) – 7 votes
