The football administrator, a key figure in African football for decades, died in Paris on Thursday, just a day before his 78th birthday. He was born on August 9, 1946, in Garoua, Cameroon.
Hayatou served as CAF’s president for an unprecedented 29 years, from 1988 to 2017, and played a pivotal role in increasing Africa’s slots at the FIFA World Cup from two to five. It was also under his leadership that South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010, marking the first time an African nation held the tournament.
His tenure came to an end when he lost the CAF presidential election to Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar.
Despite the defeat, Hayatou’s legacy as the longest-serving CAF President stands as a testament to his significant impact on the sport.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe following Hayatou’s passing, with sports journalists and fans throughout Africa expressing their condolences on social.