NFF commiserate with CAF on death of former president, Issa Hayatou
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has expressed condolences to the Cameroonian football community and the broader African football family following the death of Issa Hayatou, the former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Hayatou, who was also a former 400m and 800m champion in Cameroon, served as CAF President from March 10, 1988, to March 26, 2017. He passed away after a prolonged illness in Paris on the eve of his 78th birthday.
A statement from NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, quoted Gusau as expressing the NFF’s and Nigeria’s football community’s sorrow over Hayatou’s passing. “He was a great and much-loved leader of African football and did his best to leave African football greater than he met it,” the statement said.
“Hayatou was a man of strong character and integrity. We love him but God loves him more. We pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and also grant the Cameroonian, nay African football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” it continued.
Hayatou, who had served as Secretary of the Federation Cameroonaise de Football (FECAFOOT) in the 1970s, was elected CAF President during the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco. He succeeded interim President Dr. Abdelhalim Mohamed, who had taken over following the death of Dr. Ydnekatchew Tessema.
Born into the royal family of Garoua in northern Cameroon, Hayatou was known for his tall, energetic, and visionary leadership. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and served as Acting President of FIFA from October 8, 2015, to February 26, 2016, during the suspension of Sepp Blatter and before Gianni Infantino’s election.
After 29 years as CAF President, Hayatou lost his bid for re-election to Ahmad of Madagascar at the elective Congress held in Addis Ababa on March 16, 2017.