Former CAF president, Issa Hayatou, dies at 78.

The former Cameroonian athlete-turned sports administrator, died in Paris in France yesterday, after a brief illness. State broadcaster, the Cameroon radio television, CRTV, confirmed the development yesterday. 

Hayatou was born in Garoua in the North Region and left the stage on the eve of his 78^th birthday.

The former middle-distance runner and physical education teacher served as the president of the African football governing body for 29 years. 

He replaced then acting president, Sudan’s Abdel Halim Mohamad, on March 10, 1988. He later managed the institution in that capacity from 1988 to 2017, when he was succeeded by Malagasy, Ahmad Ahmad, on March 16, 2017.

Besides his position in CAF, Hayatou also held several major posts of responsibility across the globe. He served as the Senior Vice president of world football governing body, FIFA, from July 3, 1992 to March 16, 2017.

The globally-respected spots administrator also occupied the post of FIFA Acting President for over three months. 

He was elected member of the International Olympics Committee in 2001 during the 121^st Moscow session of the global sporting body.

Steady rise, deserving recognition at home 

Hayatou began his career in Cameroon in the late 50s and 60s, notably serving as an athlete and a physical education teacher. 

He notably set a national record in men’s 400m and 800m, during his career as an athlete and also played professional basketball.

The then rising star notably featured for the national basketball team of Cameroon and represented the nation in athletics during the inaugural edition of the Pan-African Games, the All-Africa Games staged in Brazzaville in Congo in 1965.

Hayatou stepped into management in the early 1970s, first holding the post of the Secretary General of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT in 1974 at just 28. 

He later became FECAFOOT president in 1985, a position he held until 1988 when he became CAF president. 

In May 2017, he was appointed the President of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Football Academy, a position he held till his demise yesterday. 

Rich legacy

Hayatou is regarded in Cameroon and globally as a major figure who was selfless and endlessly played crucial roles in the development of sports in the continent and the world at large.

He is mainly credited for pushing for Africa to be given a greater quota in the FIFA World Cup, football’s biggest competition, where the continent now has nine spots, up from the two that obtained when he became CAF boss.

The late administrator is also hailed for his contributions in developing football at the African level.

One of the most striking examples of the strides, according to sports analysts, is the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations competition from an eight-team tournament to a 12-team event and later a 16-team competition before his exit.

He also introduced age-group competitions and other football development-oriented events, including the African Nations Championships, CHAN.

Hayatou also played a leading role in modernising the women’s Africa Cup of Nations, transforming the competition one of the most attractive continental events across the globe.

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3194 of Friday August 09, 2024