Issa Hayatou’s Demise : Tributes Galore

Born on 9 August 1946 in Garoua, Cameroon, Hayatou’s legacy as a sportsman, educator, and administrator has left an important mark at both national and international levels. It is against this backdrop of great achievements that his death on 8 August 2024 in Paris sent shockwaves through Africa and the global sports world. All through the weekend, his demise was the topic of discussion on almost every platform. Tributes have poured in from all corners of the world, underscoring the immense impact Hayatou had on football in particular and sports in general. 
FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the late Hayatou as a ‘passionate sports fan’. It should be recalled that Hayatou served as acting FIFA President from October 2015 until February 2016; a brief period where his impact cannot be undermined.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also expressed deep sorrow over the death of Hayatou. He had served as an IOC Member from 2001 to 2016, after which he became an IOC Honorary Member in 2017. In an information published on 9 August 2024, it was disclosed that “As a mark of respect, the IOC has lowered the flags to half-mast at Olympic House and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland”.
The Confederation of African Football, where he served as President with love and dedication for 29 good years, could not have been indifferent to the death of the emblematic figure. “President Motsepe has request...