Issa Hayatou, a titan of African football passes away on Eve of 78th Birthday
Issa Hayatou, the influential Cameroonian football administrator and former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has passed away on Thursday, August 8. The news comes just a day before his 78th birthday, which would have been on August 9th.
Hayatou’s tenure at the helm of CAF from 1988 to 2017 was marked by significant growth and development of African football.
His leadership was instrumental in elevating the continent’s premier football competition, the Africa Cup of Nations, to attracting global audience.
It was also under his watch that Africa secured four additional slots in the world cup, raising the continent’s spots from one to five.
Hayatou played a crucial role as Africa secured the right to host the World Cup for the first time in South Africa in 2010.
Beyond his administrative roles, the Cameroonian was a passionate football enthusiast with a deep-rooted love for the sport. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of African football administrators and players.
The football world mourns the loss of this iconic figure, whose contributions to the game will be remembered for years to come.