FIFA Council member and former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has emphasized that his bid for a second term in the world football governing body is not a “do-or-die affair.”
With the Confederation of African Football (CAF) elections set to take place in Cairo, Egypt, in just 12 days, 10 candidates—including Pinnick—are vying for five available slots to represent Africa on the FIFA Council.
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Speaking on SuperSport’s African Soccer program in Johannesburg, South Africa, Pinnick stated that his primary goal for seeking re-election is to build on the progress already made under FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Trust me, my re-election bid is not a matter of desperation. I have my businesses and a full schedule. My focus is on ensuring that the relationships and progress achieved in my first term are leveraged for the greater good of global football,” he said.
Pinnick also acknowledged that all the candidates contesting for the five positions are highly qualified. He praised Infantino for his leadership, which he believes has restored FIFA’s integrity, financial health, and global recognition over the past decade.
He clarified that serving on the FIFA Council is not about personal achievements but collective decision-making. “It’s not about Amaju Pinnick, Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, or Hany Abou Rida. Decisions are made collectively, and the Council works in tandem with the FIFA Congress, which remains the most powerful body.”
Reflecting on the progress made, Pinnick highlighted key milestones achieved during his tenure, including the expansion of the FIFA World Cup format and the remarkable success of the last Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Addressing concerns about Africa’s reduced allocation in the expanded FIFA Women’s World Cup—from five slots to four—Pinnick assured that extensive consultations were held before the decision was made. “If there had been a strong case for increasing Africa’s slots to six or seven, FIFA and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, as one of FIFA’s Vice Presidents, would have championed it,” he explained.
Pinnick faces stiff competition in the upcoming election, with nine other candidates also in the race for the five FIFA Council seats. His challengers include Hany Abou Rida (Egypt) and Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco), who are seeking re-election, as well as Yahia Ahmed (Mauritania), Souleiman Waberi (Djibouti), Idriss Dialli (Côte d’Ivoire), Mathurin Chakus (Benin), Augustine Senghor (Senegal), Djibrilla Pele Hamidou (Niger), and Andrew Khhamanga (Zambia).
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