African Football mourns the death of ex-CAF President Issa Hayatou
The African football community is mourning the loss of Issa Hayatou, the former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who passed away on Tuesday, August 8, in Paris.
Hayatou, who would have celebrated his 78th birthday on August 9, was a prominent figure in the history of African football, leaving behind a legacy that has shaped the sport across the continent.
The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “I express my deepest personal condolences and the condolences of the 54 CAF Member Associations, on the passing of CAF former President, President Issa Hayatou; to his family, the Fédération Camerounaise de Football, its President Samuel Eto’o and the people of Cameroon.
CAF and African Football will forever be grateful to President Hayatou for his enormous and far-reaching contributions, over many years to the development and growth of football in Africa. He will forever live in our hearts and minds.”
President Motsepe has requested that the CAF flag and the flags of all CAF Member Associations fly at half-mast for five days, until 13 August 2024
Issa Hayatou; A Legacy in African Football
Born on August 9, 1946, in Garoua, Cameroon, Issa Hayatou was a distinguished sports administrator whose influence extended far beyond the borders of his home country.
He served as the President of CAF from 1988 to 2017, a period during which African football experienced unprecedented growth and gained global recognition.
Under his leadership, the Africa Cup of Nations was expanded, African representation in the FIFA World Cup increased, and significant strides were made in strengthening football infrastructure across Africa.
However, Hayatou’s tenure was not without controversy, as his leadership was marred by allegations of corruption. Despite these challenges, his contributions to African football remain undeniable, and his impact on the sport will be remembered for generations.
In addition to his role at CAF, Hayatou briefly served as the interim President of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016. During this time, he played a crucial role in stabilizing the global football organization during a period of significant upheaval.
Tributes from the Football Community
Following his passing, tributes have poured in from across Africa and beyond. FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his condolences on Instagram, stating, “Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF president, former FIFA president ad interim, FIFA vice president and FIFA council member, Issa Hayatou.”
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, also paid tribute to Hayatou, commiserating with the Cameroonian football community and the broader African football family.
“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,” Gusau said.
He added, “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, may African football family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
As the African football community reflects on Hayatou’s life and contributions, his legacy as a leader who helped elevate African football on the global stage will continue to resonate.
