The former president of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou,has passed away, just one day before his 78th birthday.
The news of his death was confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who shared the announcement via his Instagram stories on Thursday.
In his post, Infantino expressed his sorrow, saying, “Saddened to hear of the passing of former CAF President, former FIFA President and interim, FIFA Vice President and FIFA Council member, Issa Hayatou. As a passionate sports fan and IOC Member, he dedicated his life to sports administration. On behalf of FIFA, my condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues, and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
According to reports from Cameroonian media, Hayatou had been battling a prolonged illness before his death.
Hayatou served as CAF president for an impressive 29 years, from 1988 until his unexpected ouster in 2017. His influence extended beyond African football, as he also held the position of acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter over corruption charges.
Despite his significant contributions to football, Hayatou’s career was not without controversy.
In 2021, FIFA handed him a one-year ban for violating the federation’s code of ethics in connection with a broadcasting deal signed with French media company Lagardère in 2016. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the sanction the following year.
Before his career in football administration, Hayatou was an accomplished track and field athlete and basketball player, representing his native Cameroon in both sports.
Hayatou’s passing marks the end of an era for African football, as he leaves behind a legacy of nearly three decades of leadership in the sport.
