Football fans especially Africans and the world were greeted by the news that the former Confederation of Africa (CAF) president, Issa Hayatou, is dead on 1 March 2024.
Contrary to the news, reports now clarifies that as at Friday 1st March 2024, 8:30 GMT, the news that former CAF and FIFA President Issa Hayatou is dead is FAKE.
According to a former BBC journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana, he has “spoken to people in Cameroon. There is no official confirmation that former CAF President, Issa Hayatou, is dead. That is the situation for now.”
Other reporters from Cameroon also clarified the news saying Hayatou is still alive.
Confirming this, Njie Enow, a Cameroonian journalist said:
“A few minutes ago I spoke to one of President Hayatou’s adopted sons who is himself surprised by the news and who has confirmed to me that Pa Hayatou IS NOT DEAD.”
Furthermore, Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi a Cameroonian and CAF enthusiast writer shared to confirm the news saying:
“Please be informed that news circulating about President Hayatou is fake. He is alive and kicking.”
Hayatou served as CAF president for 29 years before being defeated in the 2017 election by Ahmad Ahmad of Madagascar.
During his active administration era, Hayatou was a FIFA vice president and acting president following Sepp Blatter’s suspension.
His reputation was tarnished when he was banned for one year by FIFA’s ethics committee in 2021 for breaching “duty of loyalty” rules and was also fined 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,000).
He thereafter was banned was after an investigation revealed that he had signed CAF into an anti-competitive agreement with French media rights agency Lagardère Sport.
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