The FIFA Council elections for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) seats have been concluded, with South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe retaining his position as CAF President for the 2025-2029 term. However, Nigeria’s Amaju Pinnick failed in his re-election bid, narrowly missing out on a seat by just one vote.
The newly elected FIFA Council members from Africa include:
• Faouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
• Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)
• Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros)
• Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti)
• Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger)
• Hani Abo Rida (Egypt)
Pinnick, the former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and a key figure in African football governance, secured 28 votes, falling just one short of Djibouti’s Souleiman Hassan Waberi, who clinched the final spot with 29 votes.
Pinnick’s defeat signals a shift in FIFA Council representation from Africa, with new faces set to take on key roles in shaping the future of global football governance. Analysts believe that regional alliances and political maneuvering within CAF may have played a role in the election outcome.
With the FIFA Council set for a new term, African football stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the elected members influence policies and development programs for the continent over the next four years.
