The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is mourning the passing of its former President, Issa Hayatou.

Hayatou, who served as CAF President from 1988 to 2017, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

His tenure, spanning nearly three decades, marked a transformative era for African football, with significant growth and development across the continent.

The President of CAF, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, said: "I express my deepest personal condolences and the condolences of the 54 CAF Member Associations on the passing of CAF former President, President Issa Hayatou; to his family, the Fédération Camerounaise de Football, its President Samuel Eto'o, and the people of Cameroon.

"CAF and African football will forever be grateful to President Hayatou for his enormous and far-reaching contributions, over many years, to the development and growth of football in Africa. He will forever live in our hearts and minds."

President Motsepe has requested that the CAF flag and the flags of all CAF member associations fly at half-mast for five days until August 13, 2024.