Alhaji Issa Hayatou (file image)
By Valentine Amanze
The longest serving Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has died in Paris France at the age of 77.
Hayatou, who served as CAF President from 1988 to March 2017, a period marked by significant growth and global recognition for African football but marred with corruption, died on Thursday August 8, 2024.
Hayatou, who would have turned 78 on August 9, left an indelible mark on the sport during his illustrious career.
Born on August 9, 1946 in Garoua, Cameroon, Hayatou was a renowned sports administrator, who played a pivotal role in shaping African football.
His tenure as CAF President from 1988 to 2017 was marked by significant growth, global recognition, and infrastructure development.
Hayatou’s legacy extends beyond his CAF presidency. He briefly led FIFA as interim president from October 2015 to February 2016, stabilising the organisation during a tumultuous period.
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His contributions to African football include expanding the Africa Cup of Nations, increasing African representation at the FIFA World Cup, and strengthening football infrastructure across the continent.
During his tenure as CAP president, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Tributes have poured in from across the continent and beyond, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino paying his respects on Instagram:
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou.”
Also, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has commiserated with the Cameroonian football fraternity and the African football family as a whole following Hayatou’s death.
“The NFF and the entire Nigeria football family are terribly saddened by the death of Alhaji Issa Hayatou. He was a great and much-loved leader of African football and did his best to leave African football greater than he met it.
“Alhaji Hayatou was a man of strong character and integrity. We love him but God loves him more. We pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and also grant the Cameroonian, nay African football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” the NFF president said.
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