Football fraternity mourns death of ex-CAF President Hayatou
The football fraternity world over has mourned the death of former CAF president Issa Hayatou. The Cameroonian passed on aged 77 years in France and will forever be remembered as the longest serving CAF president after governing African football for 29 years between 1988 and 2017. Hayatou, a former track athlete and Basketballer was also […] The post Football fraternity mourns death of ex-CAF President Hayatou appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
JoriPress
The football fraternity world over has mourned the death of former CAF president Issa Hayatou.
The Cameroonian passed on aged 77 years in France and will forever be remembered as the longest serving CAF president after governing African football for 29 years between 1988 and 2017.
Hayatou, a former track athlete and Basketballer was also a member of the FIFA Council for long time and served as interim FIFA President between 2015 and 2016 when Sepp Blatter was suspended.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino posted on his Instagram; “Saddened to hear of the passing of former Caf president, former Fifa president ad interim, Fifa vice president and Fifa council member, Issa Hayatou.
“A passionate sports fan, he dedicated his life to sports administration.
“On behalf of Fifa, condolences go to his family, friends, former colleagues and all who knew him. Rest in peace.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe also sent a condolence message stating: “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 has requested that the CAF flag and the flags of all CAF Member Associations fly at half-mast for a period of five days, until 13 August 2024.
FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim also joined mourners with a message: “It is sad to hear about the loss of Mr. Issa Hayatou and I express my sincere sympathy to CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, Cameroon FA and the family of the departed African football administrator.
“On behalf of the FUFA Executive, delegates, Secretariat and all Member Associations of FUFA, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family and the entire football fraternity on the loss of an icon who served football wholeheartedly. I offer you my thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes during this dark time for African football.”
Under his leadership, African increased its representatives at the FIFA World Cup to five, saw Africa host its first ever World Cup finals in South Africa and also initiated the idea to expand the Afcon to a 24-team tournament.
On the controversial side, Hayatou was handed a one year ban for breaching its code of ethics when signing African football’s largest ever deal with French media company Lagardere in 2016 although the sanction was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February 2017.
The post Football fraternity mourns death of ex-CAF President Hayatou appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
