“What will make me happy now, after all these achievements will be to get even more successes for African football. We continue with massive strides on all fronts of football development and going into the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, I do not see why Africa cannot have one or two of our representatives reach the semi-finals or indeed even the final of the World Cup during my time as President,” says Dr. Issa Hayatou looking ahead to the 20th FIFA World Cup Brazil2014 in a year that marks the 26th anniversary of his CAF presidency – a landmark of football administration leadership across the continental federations.
On 10th March 1988 at Casablanca on the occasion of the CAF General Assembly, 42-year old Issa Hayatou embarked on the long road of African football renaissance.
After three rounds of voting, Africa bestowed on a young visionary the mantle to lead, to guide the continent and steer it into a new century and millennium of football rebirth with confidences of repositioning the continent’s number one sport to heights so lofty they were a mere dream for greater Africa.
But from when the final round of polling was announced: Issa Hayatou 22 votes Godfried Ekoue 18 votes; the journey had begun from where the late CAF president Ydnakatchew Tessema had left off. Issa Hayatou has never looked back!
26-years down the line, the young visionary stands tall, having delivered on all fronts of football development, and continues to march with Africa towards even more success.
A litany of achievements defines Hayatou’s presidency and guardianship of African football. His induction as the first ever entrant into the African Football CAF Hall of Fame could be the shortest of phrases of the definition of years of hard work and success. It could have never been more appropriate having been conferred on him in the silver jubilee of his presidency. That honour, bestowed on him with FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Morocco on 10th March stands out by its exclusivity. No other members would be inducted into the CAF Hall of Fame for a full year to allow for a complete calendar cycle of the celebration of two football greats who have dedicated entire lives to the growth and development of African football.
Over the years of Hayatou’s presidency, African football has evolved dramatically. The continent has witnessed unprecedented developments, enviable successes and increased representation for Africa in global competitions with one of the crowning moment coming in 2010 when Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time ever.
As Africa marks the 26 years of the Hayatou presidency with just over 90 days before the biggest football festival kicks off in Brazil, echoes of the CAF president’s World Cup hopes will ring across the continent and the five African teams.
A continent will wait with baited breadth and cheer on its “big-five” in Brazil. A continent will continue to march with its adored football flair and the legacy of the years of development can only provide the continent with a springboard for even more success.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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