Former President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou, has passed away at the age of 77.

Hayatou died in Paris on Thursday, just one day before his 78th birthday.

Hayatou, a Cameroonian football administrator, served as CAF’s president for an unprecedented 29 years, from 1988 to 2017.

During his tenure, he played a crucial role in shaping African football, securing increased slots for African teams at the FIFA World Cup and overseeing the successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.