Former CAF president Issa Hayatou dies

Former Confederation of African Football (CAF) President and FIFA President, Issa Hayatou, passed away in Paris on Thursday following a prolonged illness.

Issa Hayatou was born on August 9, 1946, in Garoua, Cameroon. Sadly, he passed away just before his birthday. Hayatou was a multifaceted individual who left an indelible mark on African football.

Beyond his accomplishments as a footballer, Hayatou served as the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for nearly three decades, from 1988 to March 2017. During his tenure, African football experienced significant growth, including the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations and increased representation of African teams in the FIFA World Cup.

In addition to his notable tenure as CAF President, Issa Hayatou also served as the interim President of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016. He assumed this role following the suspension of Sepp Blatter by the world football governing body.

The football community worldwide is mourning the loss of Issa Hayatou, with an outpouring of condolences and tributes acknowledging his profound impact on the development and growth of African football.

Reporter: Makhosethu Ndlovu