The longest serving former Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou has died at the age of 77.
Hayatou was the leader of CAF for 29 years from 1998 to 2017 before he lost the election Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar.
The Cameroonian once led the world football governing body, FIFA on interim basis between 2015 and 2016 when then president Sepp Blatter was suspended for alleged corruption.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino took to his social media platforms to pay his tribute following Hayatou’s death.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou,” Infantino wrote on Instagram.
“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.”
In a statement, CAF Patrice Motsepe also expressed his sorrow:
“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 Fédération Camerounaise de Football, its President Samuel Eto’o and the people of Cameroon.
“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.”
The South African also requested that the CAF flag and flags of all CAF Member Associations fly at half-mast for a period of five days, until 13 August 2024.
