The Cameroonian administrator was CAF president for 29 years before being ousted in 2017
Former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has passed away at the age of 77, just one day before his 78th birthday.
The Cameroonian sports administrator who had a profound impact on African football, died on Thursday after a prolonged illness.
Hayatou's legacy as CAF president
Issa Hayatou's tenure as the president of CAF spanned 29 years, the longest in the federation's history, from 1988 until his unexpected ouster in 2017.
Under his leadership, African football witnessed significant growth, with the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations and the increased presence of African teams in the FIFA World Cup.
Hayatou was a central figure in bringing the World Cup to Africa for the first time, with South Africa hosting the tournament in 2010. Despite his achievements, Hayatou's leadership style was often criticised as being autocratic, and he faced accusations of resisting change within the organisation, as well as suspicions of corruption and bribe-taking, particularly regarding the decision to award Qatar hosting rights to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In addition to his role at CAF, Hayatou served as the acting president of FIFA from 2015 to 2016, stepping in after Sepp Blatter was suspended amid corruption allegations.
His involvement with FIFA extended beyond this interim role, as he had been a key player in global football governance for years, serving as the body's vice president for 25 years.
However, his legacy was not without controversy, as he was reprimanded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2011 over a bribery scandal, although he maintained his innocence.
Hayatou's lifelong dedication to sports administration
Beyond football, Issa Hayatou was deeply involved in sports administration throughout his life. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee for 15 years, from 2001 until 2016 when he became an honorary member.
His commitment to sports extended to his home country of Cameroon, where his brother served as prime minister. Hayatou's influence in African and global sports was undeniable, as he helped shape the future of football on the continent.
Despite the controversies that marked parts of his career, Hayatou's contributions to African football remain significant. His passing represents the end of a long chapter in the history of CAF, where he was both a celebrated and controversial figure.
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