Pinnick Wins FIFA Council Seat

The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, Friday afternoon emerged winner of one of the six FIFA Council seats allotted to Africa.

The election, which held during the 43rd General Assembly of CAF in Rabat, Morocco, saw the Delta-born football administrator polling 43 of the available 51 votes to become the third Nigerian ever to occupy the seat.

With four others in the race for the two slots allotted to Anglophone speaking part of the continent stepping down for Pinnick, Malawian Walter Nyamilandu insisted on fighting till the end.

And he got soundly beaten by the Nigerian who is now one of the most powerful voices on global football today.

Late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo and Dr Amos Adamu were the other two Nigerians to ever occupy the exalted post in the 37-member FIFA Council.

Earlier, South African billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, emerged the first English speaking president of the continental body.

All four others in the race stepped down for Motsepe, who is the financier of South African club side, Mamelodi Sundowns.