Issa Hayatou, former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), died on Thursday in Paris, where the Summer Olympic Games are currently taking place.
A report from the French radio station RFI noted that “the day marked a celebration for African football, with Morocco’s bronze medal against Egypt at the Olympic Games, and concluded with the announcement of the sad news that Issa Hayatou died on the eve of his 78th birthday.”
He served as president of CAF from 1988 until March 2017 and interim president of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe released a statement on Thursday expressing his condolences. “On behalf of CAF and its 54 member associations, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of former CAF President Issa Hayatou, as well as to the Cameroonian Football Federation, its president Samuel Etoo, and the entire Cameroonian people,” Motsepe 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 hold a place in our hearts and memories,” the statement added.
Following Motsepe’s directives, the flags of CAF and its member federations will be flown at half-mast for five days, until August 13.