Issa Hayatou, the immediate-past president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a towering figure in global sports administration, has passed away at the age of 77, just a day before his 78th birthday on August 9.
Hayatou, a Cameroonian national, held the position of CAF President for an unprecedented 29 years, from 1988 until his surprising ouster in 2017.
He was the longest-serving leader in the history of the organization and was instrumental in shaping the direction of African football during his tenure.
In addition to his role at CAF, Hayatou also briefly served as the acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016 following the suspension of Sepp Blatter.
His influence extended beyond football, as he was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2001 until 2016, after which he was honored as an honorary member.
Despite his significant contributions, Hayatou’s career was not without controversy. In 2011, he was reprimanded by the IOC in connection with an alleged bribery scandal involving FIFA.
The BBC Panorama investigation alleged that Hayatou received $20,000 from the now-defunct sports marketing company ISL in 1995. Hayatou denied any wrongdoing, insisting the money was a gift for CAF.
