FIFA executive member Amaju Melvin Pinnick will go head-to-head with 9 contenders today as he seeks to retain his seat on the 37-member FIFA Council—the highest governing body in world football.

The election will take place at the 14th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo, Egypt.

Pinnick, a prominent figure in African football administration, is among the frontrunners, alongside Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa and Egyptian Hany Abou Rida. A total of 10 candidates will compete for five available seats when voting commences at the Marriott Mena House this morning.

Africa holds seven seats on the FIFA Council, with one automatically reserved for the CAF President. Additionally, one seat is designated for a female representative, where CAF’s 5th Vice President, Kanizat Ibrahim of the Comoros Islands, will contest against incumbent member Isha Johansen of Sierra Leone.

This year’s contest is expected to be the most competitive yet, with other candidates including Ivorian Yacine Idriss Diallo, Senegal’s Augustin Senghor, Niger Republic’s Djibrilla ‘Pele’ Hima Hamidou, Zambia’s Andrew Kamanga, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya, Benin Republic’s Mathurin De Chacus, and Djibouti’s Souleman Hassan Waberi.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who remains unchallenged for a second term, will retain his seat effortlessly but will closely monitor proceedings as only half of the male candidates will secure spots on the prestigious FIFA Council.

Each of CAF’s 54 Member Associations will cast votes for five male representatives and one female representative. Nigeria’s vote will be cast by NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who arrived in Cairo on Sunday alongside NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.