Gusau mourns former CAF president, Hayatou

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commiserated with the Cameroonian fraternity over the death of former President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou.

Hayatou died after a protracted illness in the French capital, Paris, on the eve of his 78th birthday.

He served as CAF’s president between 10th March, 1988 to 16th March, 2017.

After 29 years in office as CAF President, Hayatou lost the bid for a fresh term in 2017 to Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad.

“The NFF and the entire Nigeria football family are terribly saddened by the death of Alhaji Issa Hayatou.

“He was a great and much-loved leader of African football and did his best to leave African football greater than he met it,” Gusau said in a statement released by the NFF.

“Alhaji Hayatou was a man of strong character and integrity. We love him but God loves him more.

“We pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and also grant the Cameroonian, nay African football family the fortitude to bear the loss.”