YAOUNDE - Former African football president Issa Hayatou died on Thursday after a long illness one day before his 78th birthday, Cameroon television said. The Cameroonian was the long serving president of the Confederation of African Football for 29 years from 1988 until his surprise ouster in 2017. He also served as acting FIFA president from 2015-2016 after Sepp Blatter was suspended by world football's governing body. His tenure at the helm of African football saw the game on the continent make strides although Hayatou was often accused of being dictatorial and slow to introduce innovative change. Hayatou challenged Blatter for the FIFA presidency in 2002, but lost heavily as many African countries deserted him in the vote against the Swiss.

Source: BBC August 08, 2024 22:25 UTC