Former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has died in Paris, where the Olympics games are holding.
He was aged 77.
Hayatou was in Paris as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), although the circumstances of his passage have not been disclosed.
He served longest as CAF President, occupying the post for 29 years, from 1988 until 2017.
“We have lost a remarkable leader, a man who devoted his life to the advancement of football in Africa,” a CAF spokesperson reportedly remarked. “His legacy will continue to inspire us as we strive to further develop the sport on the continent.”
Born 9th August 1946, the Cameroonian sports executive, athlete, and football administrator was Acting FIFA President until 26 February 2016, after President Sepp Blatter was banned from all football-related activities in 2015 in a sweeping FIFA corruption investigation.
He ran for President of FIFA in 2002, but was defeated by Sepp Blatter.
