Tinubu backs Pinnick’s re-election bid into FIFA executive council

President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the re-election bid of Amaju Pinnick, the former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to the FIFA executive council.

The president’s support was announced in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, on Tuesday.

Pinnick was first elected into the FIFA Council in March 2021 at the 43rd CAF ordinary general assembly in Rabat, Morocco.

He edged out Malawi’s Walter Nyamilandu in the election into the council.

The FIFA executive council is the principal decision-making organ of the federation in the intervals of the FIFA Congress.

The council is comprised of 37 members elected by the FIFA Congress for a renewable term of four years.

Pinnick was a two-term president of the NFF between 2014 and 2022 and was replaced by Ibrahim Gusau.

He is the third Nigerian to be elected into the FIFA council after Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu.

The 2024 election is expected to held during the 46^th CAF ordinary general assembly in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on 10 October.