By Paul Deng
JUBA, Jan 22. – President of the Niger Football Federation (FENIFOOT), Djibrilla Hima Hamidou ‘Pele’ has attended the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) that ended today in Juba, South Sudan.
Djibrilla who is targeting a FIFA Council seat when the CAF General Assembly takes place on March 12th, 2025 in Cairo, Egypt says he is confident of winning one of the slots.
“I am busy doing the campaigning and all is getting on well. I decided to come and also grace the CECAFA Assembly together with my brothers from the CECAFA Zone,” added Djibrilla.
The non-elective CECAFA Assembly which was also attended by several guests from FIFA and CAF took place at the Imperial Plaza Hotel.
The Niger Football Federation President, a war veteran back in his country was elected CAF Exco member in March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco.
Although members of CECAFA decided to support their own Suleiman Waberi, President of the Djibouti Football Federation for the FIFA seat, Djibrilla remains a very strong contender.
Africa has 6 positions with 5 going to men and 1 position reserved for women candidates.
This elections will be very different from the past FIFA Council elections in Africa with the removal of languages in voting for FIFA Council members was a resolution from the most recent 46th CAF General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Contestants list
Hany Abo Rida – Egypt
Fouzi Lekjaa – Morocco
Yahia Ahmed- Mauritania
Suleiman Hassan Waberi- Djibouti
Amaju Pinnick – Nigeria
Idriss Diallo – Cote D’Ivoire
Mathurin Chakus – Benin
Augustine Senghor – Senegal
Djibrilla Hima Hamidou – Niger
Andrew Kamanga – Zambia
Women position
Lydia Nsekera – Burundi
Isha Johansen – Sierra Leone
Kanizat Ibrahim – Comoros
