The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr Patrice Motsepe, has expressed his deepest personal condolences and those of the 54 CAF Member Associations on the passing of former CAF President, Issa Hayatou.
Hayatou, who is the long-serving of the federation died on Thursday in Paris, following an illness.
He led CAF from 1988 to 2017.
In a statement, Dr Motsepe praised the late football administrator “his enormous and profound contribution” in the development of the game across the continent
“On behalf of CAF and its 54 member associations, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of former CAF President, President Issa Hayatou, as well as to the Cameroon Football Federation, its President Samuel Eto’o and the entire Cameroonian people,” he said.
“The Confederation of African Football and African football will always be grateful to President Hayatou for his enormous and profound contribution over many years to the advancement and expansion of football in Africa. He will forever occupy a place in our hearts and memories.
“May President Issa Hayatou’s soul rest in peace.”
The CAF President 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, as a mark of respect for the late former President.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has also paid tribute to Hayatou, who in his youth was a track athlete and basketball player, in a post on 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,” Infantino wrote.
“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.”
The Cameroonian spent 29 years at the head of the continental governing body, assuming the presidency in 1988 and leaving office in 2017.
He also had a brief spell as acting president of Fifa between 2015 and 2016 after Sepp Blatter was suspended.
