Person in history

Issa Hayatou

Issa Hayatou, Cameroonian basketball player and football executive (born 1946)

Life at a glance

Died
2024 · August 8
Known as
basketball player, athletics competitor, sports official, and functionary. Citizenship: Cameroon

Their story

Who they were

Biography Early life Issa Hayatou was born in Garoua , in what was then French Cameroon , on 9 August 1946, the son of a local Sultan, and became a middle-distance runner and physical education teacher. Hayatou had a successful career as an athlete, becoming a member of the Cameroonian national squads in both Basketball and Athletics, and holding national record times in the 400- and 800-metre running. [ 1 ] [ better source needed ]

Personal life Hayatou was married with four children. The Hayatou family are traditional holders of the sultanate ( Lamidat , from the Sokoto Caliphate 's traditional Fula title Lamine ) of Garoua. Hayatou was son of the reigning sultan, and many relatives have acceded to powerful positions in Cameroonian society. [ 1 ] Most notable was Issa's brother Sadou Hayatou , a former Prime Minister of Cameroon and longtime high official under Cameroon president Paul Biya ,

Issa Hayatou was a Cameroonian sports executive, athlete, and football administrator best known for serving as the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 1988 and 2017. He served as the acting FIFA president until 26 February 2016 as the previous president Sepp Blatter was banned from all football-related activities in 2015 as a part of that year's FIFA corruption investigation. In 2002, he ran for president of FIFA but was defeated by Blatter.

Early life

Educated at: University of Yaoundé.

Path and career

Awards / honours: Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo.

Why this date

Issa Hayatou appears on our August 8 calendar for 2024 as a death entry.

Sources

Cite this page

“Issa Hayatou”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/issa-hayatou, accessed October 25, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about Issa Hayatou

When did Issa Hayatou die?

August 8 2024.

Who else was born on this day?

The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.

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