Former CAF President, Issa Hayatou, Dies at 77
Issa Hayatou, a Cameroonian sports executive, former athlete, and football administrator, passed away in Paris on Thursday.
Hayatou, who was president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for 29 years, died after a long illness, just a day before his 78th birthday.
Hayatou, whose brother was prime minister of Cameroon, was a lifelong sports administrator. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Hayatou's death has been met with an outpouring of grief from the world of football. CAF President Patrice Motsepe described him as "a tireless and committed servant of African football," while FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he was "a true giant of our sport."
Hayatou was born in Garoua, Cameroon, in 1946. He began his football career as a player, but later moved into administration. He became president of CAF in 1988, and held the position until 2017, when he was defeated by Ahmad Ahmad.
During his time as CAF president, Hayatou oversaw a period of significant growth for African football. He helped to develop the CAF Champions League and the Africa Cup of Nations, and also played a key role in bringing the FIFA World Cup to Africa for the first time in 2010.
Hayatou's death is a great loss to the world of football. He was a true pioneer who dedicated his life to the development of the game in Africa.
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