After 21 years of stewardship, African football observers have credited Hayatou for haven spotlighted CAF on a positive light in the international scene.

In a recent stopover in Yaounde, Cameroon, aides to Hayatou told reporters that there is a general consensus across the African continent that Hayatou should be allowed to continue the good work he has been doing in CAF. One of his campaign messages read; “For the continuity of the transparent and effective management of the CAF, GARF Africa votes Dr. Issa Hayatou. And you? As one does not change the winning team, one does not change a President who makes the happiness of African football.”

Hayatou, who doubles as the President of South Africa 2010 Organizing Committee of the World Cup is seen as somebody who has put a good spice into African football. These include but not limited to the stepping up of teams for the African Cup of Nations from 12 to 16, and the organization of the African Nations Championship, exclusively of African players resident in the continent.

He is said to have given credibility to CAF through budgetary allocations for technical development presently at $2 million. CAF has improved its revenue due to the commercialization of competitions, multiplying 31 times from $450,000 in 1987 to $13.9 million between 2001 and 2003.

Hayatou, who have been with CAF since 1988, muted the idea to get the hosting of the World Cup rotate within the five continents and was adopted with South Africa being the first to benefit in Africa. In addition, each national association affiliated to FIFA is being given $1 million.

One of the outstanding achievements of Hayatou is the construction of the CAF Academy in Yaounde, the largest of three in Africa.