The administrator served the game in the continent for 29 years, ensuring some massive changes to benefit the players.
Former Confederation of African Football, Caf, President Issa Hayatou has passed away at the age of 77.
The Cameroonian remains the longest-serving president in the confederation, having led Caf from 1988 to 2017 before being ousted by Malagasy challenger Ahmad Ahmad in his bid to win the seventh term.
Hayatou was a respected personnel by the World Football Governing Body, Fifa. He served as an executive committee member of the Switzerland-based organization from 1990 to 2017.
What were Hayatou's achievements and shortcomings?
During his time as the Caf President, African representation at the Fifa World Cup grew from just two to five, while the Africa Cup of Nations teams grew from eight to 16 teams.
Under his leadership African spots at the World Cup grew from two to five, while the Africa Cup of Nations was extended from eight to 16 teams.
Between 2015 and 2016, Hayatou served as an interim Fifa president after Sepp Blatter's suspension owing to alleged corruption matters.
The former Caf head was banned by Fifa for a year in August 2021 after irregularity in signing an African football deal with a French media firm Lagardere in 2016. However, he successfully appealed the ban and it was overturned in February 2022 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Infantino and Motsepe condole with family, friends at large
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has been saddened by Hayatou's demise and has since shared his tribute to involved parties.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president, and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou,” he shared on his Instagram account.
“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.”
Caf President Dr Ptrice Motsepe lauded the deceased for his achievements in African football, “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 [Fecafoot], its President Samuel Eto’o and the people of Cameroon,” he stated.
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.”
