Issa Hayatou, who passed away at 77 in Paris, was a towering figure in African football.
As the president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for 29 years, Hayatou played a crucial role in shaping the sport on the continent, according to BBC. His leadership brought many changes and achievements, but also faced controversy.
Hayatou, originally from Garoua, Cameroon, began his sports career as a track champion and later moved into football administration.
By 1986, he was on Caf’s executive committee and soon became its president. Under his rule, Caf saw major developments, including the introduction of women’s and youth tournaments and expanding the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was also instrumental in increasing Africa’s representation at the World Cup and helped bring the tournament to the continent for the first time in 2010, hosted by South Africa.
Despite his achievements, Hayatou’s tenure was marred by scandals and allegations of bribery, though he consistently denied wrongdoing.
Hayatou’s legacy is complex: he made significant strides in African football but also faced criticism and legal issues.
His passing is a moment of reflection on his impact and the changes he brought to the sport in Africa, as noted by BBC.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c77l472rym0o