For years, Hayatou ruled African Football with an iron fist. He eliminated rivals and potentials alike. A good example is the case of Nigeria's Amos Adamu, who was tipped to replace him as CAF's head. Now, Adamu was corrupt but I believe he was framed by people who saw his capability.

It is also no coincidence that Cameroon, his country of birth won all but one of their 5 nations cup during his 6 tenures(yes 6). Yes, his position as CAF's President would inadvertently lead to the growth of the sport in his country, but a quick peek at the Nations cup final of 2000 where Nigeria was beaten finalist would prove that it was not all fair play.
A little Biography as gotten from WIKIPEDIA.
Issa Hayatou (born 9 August 1946) is a Cameroonian former athlete and sports executive.Hayatou is the fifth president of the Confederation of African Football. He was born in Garoua, Cameroon, the son of a local Sultan, and became a middle distance runner and physical education teacher. Hayatou had a successful career as an athlete, becoming a member of the Cameroonian national squads in both Basketball and Athletics, and holding national record times in the 400 and 800-meter running.
In 1974, aged just 28, he became Secretary General of the Cameroon Football Association, and Chair of the FA in 1986. As chair, he was chosen the same year to sit on the CAF Executive Committee. Following the retirement of Ethiopia's Ydnekatchew Tessema from the CAF presidency in August 1987, Hayatou was elected as the fifth president in the body's history.
This year he was running for his 7th tenure. The outcome would be different.
Ahmad was elected Confederation of African Football president, ending Issa Hayatou's 29-year reign. Ahmad won 34 of the 54 votes in the election, which was held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Thursday.
The election for Ahmad has several Implication for Nigerian football.
First, it has re-established Nigeria as real kings of African football. The "overthrow" of Hayatou was a plan carefully hatched and carried out with Pinnick as the chief culprit. It started with the visit of FIFA's president visit to Abuja which Hayatou was not invited. It was obvious that African football was fast becoming factional led by the revolutionary Pinnick.
Then Pinnick took it a step further by publicly declaring support for Ahmad's ambition. This move was greeted with criticisms as well as threats from the government which tried to persuade him otherwise. His presumed "insolence" was obviously against the wish of our lily livered minister of sports as well as certain popular sporting figures. Nigeria’s sports minister Solomon Dalung had already said Pinnick’s position was not that of the NFF, as have senior Nigerian football officials already holding CAF portfolios. These officials instead said there was every reason to continue to support Hayatou, calling him “a pillar of support” and a “true friend of Nigerian football. But Pinnick stood his ground. Now, the outcome has been decided, I know that they, like the sycophants they are, would retract their statements.