Ex-CAF President Issa Hayatou Passes Away At 77, One Day Before 78th Birthday
Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has died at the age of 77. The influential football administrator passed away in Paris on Thursday, August 8, 2024, just one day before his 78th birthday.
Hayatou was a pivotal figure in African football, leading CAF from 1988 to 2017. He also served as interim FIFA President from 2015 to 2016 during the suspension of Joseph Sepp Blatter amid a corruption scandal.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid tribute to Hayatou in a heartfelt Instagram post, describing him as a “passionate sports fan” who dedicated his life to sports administration. “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 behalf of FIFA, condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues, and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
During his tenure, Hayatou was instrumental in bringing the FIFA World Cup to Africa for the first time, with South Africa hosting the tournament in 2010. His leadership and contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark on African and global football.
