Updated: CAF removes Amaju Pinnick as 1st vice president

Nigeria’s football governing body president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick Thursday was removed as first  Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and replaced by South Africa’s Danny Jordann

The decision was taken during the body’s Executive Committee meeting in Cairo.

Pinnick’s removal came a day after CAF’s executive committee agreed to allow FIFA Secretary General take charge of the administration of the Confederation for a period of six months.

Pinnick had served as the first vice-president of CAF since July 2018.

No reason was given for his removal by CAF President Ahmad, who signed an agreement with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday to confirm the appointment of FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura as a ‘General Delegate for Africa’.

“It has been an excellent opportunity to serve as the number two football administrator in the entire African continent,” Pinnick said in a statement.

“My commitment to the game is perpetual while my support for my colleagues in the Executive Committee remains steadfast.”

Pinnick’s exit means a reshuffling of Ahmad’s vice-presidents, with Constant Omari of DR Congo and Moroccan Faouzi Lekjaa moving up from second and third vice-president respectively.

Jordaan, who played a key role at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – the only time the tournament has ever been played on the continent – will now act as third vice-president.

Lekjaa, meanwhile, is facing a possible ban by Caf after the Ethiopian Football Federation accused the Moroccan federation president of assaulting the referee following the African Champions League final between Wydad Casablanca and Tunisia’s Esperance.

After Caf’s Disciplinary Committee was unable to reach a verdict earlier this month, the case was sent back to African football’s ruling body.

Samoura, meanwhile, will start her role on 1 August, renewable after six months should both CAF and FIFA agree, in the hope of overseeing widespread administration reform in Africa.

CAF has been plagued by a series of scandals in recent times, with president Ahmad Ahmad arrested and detained for hours in France.

Pinnick is also facing court case over fraud allegation in Nigeria, where he has refused to show up in court.

Leave a Reply