Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), passed away on August 8, 2024, in Paris, just shy of his 78th birthday.
The Cameroonian football icon had been in poor health for several years and had recently returned to his hometown of Garoua.
Despite overcoming earlier rumors of his passing in March, Hayatou ultimately succumbed to his illness. His nearly three-decade tenure at CAF, from 1988 to 2017, left a lasting impact on African and global football.
Hayatou also served as a member of the International Olympic Committee and was appointed President of the National Football Academy in Cameroon in 2017 by President Paul Biya.
Although his bid for FIFA presidency in 2002 was unsuccessful, his contributions to the sport remain significant.