Tributes are pouring in for the deceased former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) – Issa Hayatou, who died on Friday, August 8, 2024.
Hayatou passed on at the age of 77. Before his demise, he served CAF from 1988 to 2017.
The current Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) President Dr Patrice Motsepe reacted to the death of Issa Hayatou in a statement saying:
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“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.”
President Motsepe further requested that the CAF flag and the flags of all CAF Member Associations fly at half-mast for five days until 13 August 2024.
African soccer fans have also sent their condolences to CAF and the family of the late Hayatou, with tributes tributes being paid via social media.
Some of the fans recalled his contribution to African football, while a few others expressed their discontent with his leadership as CFA president.
Born on August 9, 1946, Issa Hayatou hails from Cameroon, Central Africa. After the then FIFA president Sepp Blatter was banned from all football-related activities in 2015 following a corruption investigation, Hayatou became the acting FIFA president and served until February 26, 2016.
In 2002, his dream of becoming FIFA’s president did not come to fruition as he was defeated by Sepp Blatter.
Also, the late Issa Hayatou was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
May his soul rest in peace.
Check out how some African soccer fans reacted to the death of the former CAF president.
