Hayatou spent 29 years as the President of CAF, assuming the presidency in 1988 and leaving office in 2017
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has passed on at the age of 77.
TheNiche learnt the football administrator, who was a key figure in African football for decades, died in Paris on Thursday.
His death comes just a day before his 78th birthday, having been born on August 9, 1946, in Garoua, Cameroon.
Hayatou spent 29 years at the head of African football governing body, assuming the presidency in 1988 and leaving office in 2017.
He also held high positions within world governing body Fifa and was a member of the Switzerland-based organisation’s executive committee, now known as the Fifa council, from 1990 to 2017.
He had a brief spell as acting president of Fifa between 2015 and 2016 after Sepp Blatter was suspended.
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In August 2021 Hayatou was handed a one-year ban by Fifa for breaching its code of ethics when signing African football’s largest ever deal with French media company Lagardere in 2016.
The sanction was, however, overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February the following year.
Confirming Hayatou’s death via his Instagram page, Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, said his was sad to hear about his demise.
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.”