Julius OkorieFor the next four years, Nigeria will be missing at both CAF Executive Council and FIFA Executive Council respectively.
This follows the narrow defeat of former NFF President and former FIFA Executive Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly held on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a typical change of guard, the duo of Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, claimed the final two slots, after Pinnick’s 28 votes fell short by a vote thus denying him a return to the seat he won in 2021.
Only six positions are available for Africa into the world soccer ruling body’s Executive Council in Zurich.
The newly elected members are Faouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania), Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros), Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti), Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger), and Hani Abo Rida (Egypt).
The FIFA Council, the federation’s key decision-making body between FIFA Congress sessions, consists of 37 members elected for four-year renewable terms.
Pinnick was first elected to the council in March 2021 at the 43rd CAF Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco, becoming the third Nigerian to hold a seat after Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu.
The two term former President of Nigeria Football Federation enjoyed a landslide victory in the 2021 election that elevated him into the FIFA Executive Council capturing 43 out of 51 votes cast on that occasion, beating Malawian FA president, Walter Nyamilandu who scored 8 votes.
READ ALSO:FIFA Council Re-election: Amaju Pinnick Gets Presidential Backing
Had Pinnick succeeded he would have earned an eight year reign at the council just like late Etubom Oyo Oro Oyo did between 1980 and 1988.
Late Oyo Orok Oyo did not only serve meritoriously for two terms at the FIFA Council, but was also awarded the FIFA Order of Merit in Gold at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland in the year 2000.
Meanwhile, CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, was handed a second term on a platter at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly. The South Africa business mogul and owner of South African Premier league side, Mamelodi Sundowns, was re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term as president of the Confederation of African Football with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino was in attendance.
The 63-year-old, who has been at the helm of CAF since 2021, had announced his decision to stand again in October 2024 after initially remaining reserved about seeking re-election. His candidacy came following multiple requests from CAF member association presidents and key football stakeholders across the continent.
“The goal remains making African football competitive on the international stage, stabilising finances, and investing in infrastructure that allows our teams and players to thrive,” Motsepe said after the re-election.
During his speech, Motsepe highlighted stadium infrastructure as a key focus area for his second term.
“In 2021, there were 36 countries that were not playing football in their countries. The number has come down to 12 but for us, this is still a big number,” he noted. “At CAF and FIFA, it is our job to continue supporting the development of sports infrastructure.”
Motsepe’s overwhelming support is not unconnected with various Federations desire not to change a winning horse with records of improved infrastructure as well as increase in funds generated under the South African business mogul cum sports administrator.
His administration has also seen to the increase of prize money in CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively as well as the CAF women Champions League.
The organisation reported a $72 million (£55.5m) profit from last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, 18 times larger than that generated by the previous edition in 2022.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
