Amaju Pinnick: Re-election Bid for FIFA Council “not a do or die affair”

By Dayo Awoniyi

Amaju Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has reiterated that his bid for re-election to the FIFA Council is not a matter of personal necessity but a commitment to the continued development of global football.

Pinnick, one of the ten candidates vying for five available spots, stated that his goal is to build on the achievements of the Gianni Infantino-led FIFA Council rather than make his re-election a life-or-death pursuit.

“My quest for a second term in the FIFA Council is not a do or die affair. I have my businesses and I stay busy. My primary aim is to ensure that the bridges built during my first term are fully utilized for the greater good of football worldwide,” Pinnick said.

He also acknowledged the contributions of Infantino, praising his leadership for restoring FIFA’s financial health and global recognition. “When he came in 10 years ago, things were not this rosy. He has repositioned the Council, and now it is strong financially and globally respected,” Pinnick added.

Pinnick emphasized that decisions within the FIFA Council are made collectively, stating, “It is not about individuals like me, Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, or Hany Abou Rida. We work together as a team, and the president listens to various opinions before making decisions.”

The former NFF president also pointed to major accomplishments of the FIFA Council, such as the expansion of the World Cup format and the successful Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“The World Cup in Qatar and the Women’s World Cup were monumental achievements,” he noted.

On the issue of Africa’s representation in the expanded FIFA Women’s World Cup, Pinnick assured that the decision was made after extensive consultation. “If there was a need to increase Africa’s slots, the FIFA Council, led by Gianni and with CAF President Patrice Motsepe as one of the vice presidents, would have taken action,” he stated.

Pinnick faces stiff competition from other prominent candidates, including Hany Abou Rida of Egypt, Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco, Yahia Ahmed of Mauritania, and Augustine Senghor of Senegal, in the upcoming FIFA Council elections.