The sports community mourns after former CAF president, Issa Hayatou, died in Paris Thursday, a day before his 78th birthday.
Former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has passed away at the age of 77.
He was a former 400m and 800m champion of Cameroon, who served as President of CAF between 10th March 1988 – 16th March 2017.
Hayatou, who served as Secretary of the Federation Cameroonaise de Football (FECAFOOT) in the 1970s, was elected CAF President on the margin of the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, to take office from interim boss, Dr Abdelhalim Mohamed, who had stepped in the previous year following the death of Dr. Ydnekatchew Tessema.
“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.”
Fifa president Gianni Infantino described the late Hayatou as a ‘passionate sports fan” in a post on Instagram on Thursday evening.
He wrote: “Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president, and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou.”
“A passionate sports fan, he dedicated his life to sports administration.
“On behalf of Fifa, condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
After 29 years in office as CAF President, Hayatou lost the bid for a fresh term in an election won by Ahmad of Madagascar at an elective Congress in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on 16th March 2017.
A Giant of African Football
A giant of African football, Issa Hayatou, passed away in Paris on Thursday after a long illness, just a day before his 78th birthday.
Born in Cameroon in 1946, the former footballer was a towering figure who left an indelible mark on the sport.
He served as the president of the Confederation of African Football for almost three decades until March 2017.
It was a period during which the sport on the continent experienced significant growth and gained global recognition.
His time at CAF saw the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations, the inclusion of more African teams in the FIFA World Cup, and the strengthening of football infrastructure across Africa.
Hayatou also held the position of interim president of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016, stepping in after Sepp Blatter was suspended by the world football governing body.
It was a turbulent period for the organisation, but he managed to steer it through a crucial period with his characteristic calm and authority.
Condolences have poured in from around the globe following news of his passing, with many acknowledging the important role he played in transforming African football into a force to be reckon with on the world stage.
A Legacy of Leadership
Issa Hayatou’s death was made known by the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, in a Thursday post on his Instagram stories.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF President, former FIFA President and interim, FIFA Vice President and FIFA Council member, Issa Hayatou,” the post reads.
“As a passionate sports fan and IOC Member, he dedicated his life to sports administration and on behalf of FIFA, and condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
Cameroonian media are reporting that Hayatou had been battling a protracted sickness before his death less than 24 hours to his 78th birthday.
Hayatou was a long-serving president of CAF for 29 years, from 1988 until his surprise ouster in 2017.
The Cameroonian also served as acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016 after Sepp Blatter was suspended over corruption charges.
Hayatou was handed a one-year ban by FIFA in 2021 for breaching the federation’s code of ethics when signing CAF’s broadcasting deal with Lagardere, the French media company, in 2016.
However, the sanction was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) the following year.
Hayatou was also an accomplished track and field athlete and basketball player before his sojourn into football administration.
A Life Well Lived
Issa Hayatou’s legacy is one of dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment to African football. He dedicated his life to the development and promotion of the sport on the continent, and his impact will be felt for generations to come. He will be remembered as a visionary leader who helped to shape the future of African football.
His passing is a great loss to the African football family, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of footballers and administrators.
