Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has died at the age of 77 in Paris on Thursday, August 8, 2024, a day before his 78th birthday.
Hayatou was a key figure in African football for decades, serving as CAF President from March 10, 1988, to March 16, 2017.
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), expressed his condolences to the Cameroonian and African football families, stating that Hayatou was a great and much-loved leader who dedicated his life to improving African football. Gusau praised Hayatou’s strong character and integrity, saying that while the NFF and Nigerian football family loved him, God loved him more.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute to Hayatou, describing him as a “passionate sports fan” who dedicated his life to sports administration. Infantino, on behalf of FIFA, extended condolences to Hayatou’s family, friends, former colleagues, and all who knew him.
Hayatou, born in the northern Cameroonian town of Garoua to the royal family, was a former 400m and 800m champion of Cameroon. He served as Secretary of the Federation Cameroonaise de Football (FECAFOOT) in the 1970s before being elected CAF President in 1988. Hayatou was also a member of the International Olympic Committee and served as Acting President of FIFA for 4 months and 18 days in 2015-2016 following Sepp Blatter’s suspension.
After 29 years as CAF President, Hayatou lost his bid for re-election in 2017 to Ahmad of Madagascar at an elective Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was during Hayatou’s tenure that South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African nation to do so.
