Governing Bodies
DECISION DAY FOR AMAJU PINNICK
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
To be or not to be? That is the poser before the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick as the 43rd General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) gets under way in Rabat, Morocco.
At about noon today, he ceases to be a member of the Executive Committee of CAF, having dropped a reelection for a more elevating position of FIFA Council.
He will hope to be among the top two in a field of six contestants in the English-speaking bloc of African football jostling to belong to the 37-member ruling class of global football.
Among his fellow contestants is an incumbent, Malawi’s Walter Nyamilandu.
Considering the incumbency factor in Africa’s political set up, be it in core politics, business or sports, it may be safe to assume that Pinnick will only be hoping to join the Malawi FA boss in the recently expanded FIFA Council.
In other word, there is strong indication that Nyamilandu could pick one of the two tickets, leaving Pinnick and the four others struggling for one.
Like Sports Village Square recalled earlier in the week, the other contestants on the field include Gambia’s Lamin Kaba Bajo, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Kenya’s Nicholas Mwendwa and Tanzania’s Wallace Karia.
As could be seen, the crowded pool is spread across geographical divide –West Africa, East and Central Africa and Southern Africa making it a bit challenging for any of the six contestants to lay claim to any ‘home’.
Everywhere looks a battleground. But for two candidates from Southern Africa, Pinnick would have relied heavily on his now well known alliance with South Africa where he is the frontline supporter of the CAF President-Elect, Patrice Motsepe.
In fact, Pinnick did not only drop his presidential aspiration for Motsepe, he was on ground and took to the podium when Motsepe unveiled his 10-point agenda in Johannesburg.
Pinnick could have relied on his home region of West Africa, but there is another candidate from Gambia which could also lead to split vote, especially since two previous presidential candidates – Augustin Senghor of Senegal and Jacques Anouma of Cote d’Ivoire did not find favour in the Nigerian FA chieftain.
He could however rely on votes from the Ghana FA and Isha Johansen of Sierra Leone. It is expected that personal friendship with Morocco’s FA boss, Fouzi Lekjaa can help in garnering the votes from the Arab/Portuguese and Spanish bloc.
Similarly, Lekjaa who is also eyeing a position in the FIFA Council from the Arab/Portuguese/Spanish bloc will be expecting a reciprocal support from Pinnick.
It all now boils down to alliances and counter-alliances as Pinnick is hoping to become the third Nigerian ever in the FIFA ruling body. Before him were Oyo Orok Oyo from 1980 to 1988; Amos Adamu from 2006 to 2010.
Oyo lost his FIFA seat to Gambia’s Omar Sey in 1988 at the General Assembly held in Morocco, the same country hosting the 2021 elections. Like Oyo and Adamu who started their FIFA journey by winning executive committee seats in CAF in 1972 and 2002 respectively, Pinnick is following the same path having won a CAF seat four years ago.
But unlike the duo, Pinnick will not hold the two positions simultaneously as he is not listed to contest for CAF seat today. His position is therefore vacant and candidates will contest the WAFU zone B slots.
If Pinnick wins, it is another feather on his cap and Nigeria gaining another position in the committee of Nations. But if he fails, the only executive position he will be holding will be that of NFF of which he is half-way done in his second term.
It is however expected that he may gain standing committee positions in both CAF and FIFA having been an arrowhead supporter of the chieftains of both bodies.
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- WOMEN'S FOOTBALL1 week ago
Naira rain falls on Nigeria’s Flamingos after a 4-0 defeat of Algeria
- OBITUARY5 days ago
NFF mourns the demise of former FIFA referee, Bosede Momoh
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
Financial rainfall awaits Nigeria’s Flamingos for every goal scored in Algeria
- U-17 AFCON1 week ago
Morocco crowned CAF U-17 AFCON champions after dramatic penalty shootout win over Mali
- U-20 FOOTBALL1 week ago
Nigeria begin CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title chase with Tunisian clash
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Remo Stars maintain ‘7Up’ lead over Rivers United
- feature5 days ago
Ghana’s Cardinal, Appiah Turkson, listed as a possible Pope
- Nigerian Football3 days ago
Former WAFU President, Ogufere mourns Christian Chukwu