Pinnick’s CAF Setback: A Narrow Defeat with Broader Implications for Anglophone Africa
In a surprising turn of events, Amaju Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), fell short in his bid to secure a second term on the CAF Executive Council. Despite being widely tipped as a strong contender, Pinnick managed 28 votes—just one short of the required threshold—at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt.
Pinnick, who previously served on the council after his election in March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco, was expected to retain his seat, given his influence in African football politics. However, in a tightly contested race, he was edged out by Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, both of whom secured 29 votes.
The six successful candidates elected to represent Africa on the FIFA Council include:
- Faouzi Lekjaa (Morocco) – 49 votes
- Hani Abou Rida (Egypt) – 35 votes
- Djibrilla Hima Hamidou (Niger) – 35 votes
- Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) – 29 votes
- Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti) – 29 votes
- Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros) – 30 votes (Women’s representative)
Notably, no Anglophone candidate secured a seat, marking a significant shift in the power dynamics of African football administration.
With Pinnick’s exit, English-speaking nations have lost a crucial voice at the highest levels of African football governance. This outcome raises concerns about the balance of representation and decision-making influence within CAF.
Meanwhile, South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as CAF President, extending his tenure until 2029, further cementing his leadership in the continental football hierarchy.
While this loss is a setback, Pinnick remains a key figure in African football. Whether he will mount a comeback in future elections or shift his focus to other football administrative roles remains to be seen.
His near miss serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football politics and the ever-changing power structures within CAF.
