Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a towering figure in the world of football, passed away on Thursday, just one day before his 78th birthday, following a prolonged illness.
The news was confirmed by Cameroonian television.
Hayatou, a Cameroonian national, served as the head of CAF for an unprecedented 29 years, from 1988 until his unexpected ouster in 2017. His lengthy tenure at CAF marked significant advancements in African football, although his leadership style was frequently criticized as authoritarian and resistant to change.
In addition to his role in African football, Hayatou also briefly held the position of acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter, the then-president of world football’s governing body.
A lifelong sports administrator, Hayatou was also an influential member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 until 2016, after which he became an honorary member. However, his career was not without controversy. In 2011, Hayatou was reprimanded by the IOC in connection with an alleged bribery scandal involving FIFA. The BBC’s Panorama program claimed that he had received approximately $20,000 from the now-defunct sports marketing company ISL in 1995. Hayatou denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the money was a gift intended for his confederation.
Despite these controversies, Hayatou’s influence in African and global football was undeniable. His leadership saw the sport on the continent achieve significant milestones, even as he faced criticism for being slow to embrace innovative changes.
In 2002, Hayatou challenged Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, but suffered a heavy defeat as many African nations sided with the Swiss incumbent.
