Issa Hayatou, the former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has passed away at the age of 77.
His death was confirmed by a close associate who served alongside him during his tenure as CAF President.
According to reports from Cameroon Concord, Hayatou passed away on Thursday in Paris.
Hayatou’s leadership in African football spanned nearly three decades, as he served as CAF President from 1988 until March 2017.
His tenure made him the longest-serving leader in the history of African football. In 2017, he was succeeded by Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad.
In addition to his role at CAF, Hayatou briefly served as interim President of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter.
During Issa Hayatou’s interim leadership, he oversaw the FIFA elections that brought the current President, Gianni Infantino, into office.
A spokesperson for CAF paid tribute to Hayatou, stating, “We have lost a remarkable leader, a man who devoted his life to the advancement of football in Africa. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to further develop the sport on the continent.”
Issa Hayatou’s contributions to African and global football will be remembered as part of his enduring legacy.
