Former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim has paid tribute to the recent passing of the longest-serving president of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Issa Hayatou, at the age of 77.

Ohakim in a statement on Thursday said, “Under Hayatou, football in Africa experienced an exponential leap both in intra and international competitions.”

He noted that Hayatou’s leadership saw the expansion of the African Cup of Nations from eight to sixteen teams and the growth of club-level competitions, including the African Cup of Champions Club, the CAF Confederation Cup, and the CAF Super Cup.

According to the ex-governor, a pivotal achievement of Hayatou’s tenure was Africa’s increased presence at the FIFA World Cup, with the continent’s representation growing from two to six teams.