Issa Hayatou, former CAF president dies a day to 78th birthday
Issa Hayatou died on August 8, 2024, in Paris, just one day before his 78th birthday.
His death was confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino through an Instagram post, where he expressed his sadness and offered condolences to Hayatou’s family and friends. Infantino described Hayatou as a passionate sports fan who dedicated his life to sports administration.
Issa Hayatou was born into a prominent family in Cameroon and initially made his mark as a national champion runner in track and field before transitioning into sports administration. He became the president of CAF in 1988, a position he held for nearly three decades until he was ousted in 2017. During his tenure, he played a significant role in promoting African football on the global stage.
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In addition to leading CAF, Hayatou served as a vice president of FIFA from 1990 to 2017 and briefly acted as FIFA’s interim president from October 2015 to February 2016 during a tumultuous period marked by corruption scandals involving several high-ranking officials within the organization.
Despite his long-standing influence in African football, Hayatou’s career was not without controversy. In 2002, he lost an election for FIFA president against Sepp Blatter despite receiving support from European nations. His leadership faced scrutiny when he was investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee and subsequently banned for one year in 2021 due to alleged breaches related to commercial rights deals. However, this ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in early 2022.
Hayatou’s legacy includes overseeing significant milestones such as South Africa hosting the World Cup in 2010—the first time an African nation hosted this prestigious tournament.
Following his passing, tributes poured in from various corners of the football community. The Nigerian Football Federation expressed deep sorrow over his death, highlighting his contributions to African football and praising his character and integrity.
Issa Hayatou leaves behind a complex legacy marked by both achievements and controversies that shaped African football over several decades.
