The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has extended his condolences to the Cameroonian football community and the broader African football family following the death of former Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Issa Hayatou.
Hayatou, who was a former 400m and 800m champion of Cameroon, served as CAF President from March 1988 to March 2017. He passed away after a prolonged illness in Paris, France, on the eve of his 78th birthday.
“The NFF and the entire Nigerian football family are deeply saddened by the passing of Alhaji Issa Hayatou. He was a remarkable and beloved leader who worked tirelessly to elevate African football,” said Gusau.
“Hayatou was a man of strong character and integrity. We loved him, but God loves him more. We pray that Almighty Allah grants him eternal rest and that the Cameroonian and African football family finds the strength to bear this loss.”
Hayatou’s legacy in African football is significant. Before becoming CAF President, he served as the Secretary of the Fédération Camerounaise de Football (FECAFOOT) during the 1970s. He was elected CAF President during the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, succeeding interim President Dr. Abdelhalim Mohamed, who had taken over after the passing of Dr. Ydnekatchew Tessema.
Born into a royal family in Garoua, northern Cameroon, Hayatou was known for his tall, energetic, and visionary leadership. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and served as Acting President of FIFA for four months and 18 days (from October 8, 2015, to February 26, 2016) following the suspension of Sepp Blatter and before the election of Gianni Infantino.
After 29 years at the helm of CAF, Hayatou lost his bid for re-election in March 2017 to Ahmad of Madagascar at an elective Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
