The longest-serving president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Issa Hayatou has died at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.
He serve as CAF president from 1988 to 2017.
The Cameroonian football administrator died on Thursday, leaving behind a legacy that has significantly shaped African football.
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During his tenure as CAF president, African football saw substantial growth, with the Africa Cup of Nations becoming a premier continental sporting event.
However, his leadership was also marked by controversy, particularly concerning governance and financial management issues.
Despite facing allegations of corruption, Hayatou consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Hayatou was born on August 9, 1946, in Garoua, Cameroon.
He was a talented athlete in his youth, competing in the 100m and 4x100m relay events.
Hayatou also served as a member of the FIFA Council and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
He was banned from football-related activities by FIFA in 2017 due to ethics violations.
Though he no longer actively involved in football administration, but his legacy continues to shape the sport in Africa.
Meanwhile, the president of Nigeria Football Federation NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has commiserate with African football as a whole, following the death on Thursday of former President of Confederation of African Football, Alhaji Issa Hayatou.
“The NFF and the entire Nigeria football family are terribly saddened by the death of Alhaji Issa Hayatou.
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He was a great and much-loved leader of African football and did his best to leave African football greater than he met it.
Gusau said “Alhaji Hayatou was a man of strong character and integrity. We love him but God loves him more. We pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and also grant the Cameroonian, nay African football family the fortitude to bear the loss”.