Amaju Pinnick, a FIFA Council member and former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, is making his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council. With just 12 days left until the Confederation of African Football (CAF) elections in Cairo, Pinnick is one of 10 candidates competing for five seats on the Council that will represent Africa at FIFA.
During a recent appearance on SuperSport’s African Soccer program, Pinnick emphasized that his re-election bid is not a matter of desperation. “I have my businesses; I’m not desperate. What drives me is the progress made during my first term and ensuring that these achievements continue benefiting global football,” Pinnick explained.
Pinnick praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his leadership, particularly in restoring the integrity and financial stability of the organization over the last decade. He added that the FIFA Council is a collective body, and decision-making is always done in collaboration. “This isn’t about any one individual. It’s about working together for the good of football,” he said.
While some critics have pointed out Africa’s reduced slot in the expanded FIFA Women’s World Cup, Pinnick reassured that consultations were thoroughly conducted before settling on the decision. “If there had been a strong case for more slots, FIFA and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, as one of FIFA’s Vice Presidents, would have fought for it,” he clarified.
With fierce competition ahead, Pinnick faces strong contenders like Hany Abou Rida (Egypt) and Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), as well as new faces like Yahia Ahmed (Mauritania) and Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti). The election is set to be a game-changer for African football’s future on the global stage.
