Former FIF President Ousseynou Dieng Passes Away, CAF Pays Tribute
The Ivorian football community is in mourning following the death of Dieng Ousseynou, the former president of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), who passed away on May 1st after a prolonged illness.
In a heartfelt gesture, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) sent a delegation on May 18th to offer condolences to his family. The delegation, led by Amadou Diakité, included Magassa Sidy Bekaye and Lee Kim Chang.
“President Hayatou’s heart goes out to the family of our brother Dieng. CAF is a family. And it is on behalf of this family that we have come to you in this painful ordeal to offer our condolences to his wife, his children, and the entire family. I also had the privilege of knowing my brother Dieng for over two decades,” said Diakité, in the presence of current FIF president Augustin Sidy Diallo.
Dean Tierno Sall, speaking on behalf of the grieving family, expressed gratitude to Issa Hayatou and CAF for their support and solidarity during this difficult time.
Ousseynou Dieng notably presided over a golden era in Ivorian football, leading Côte d’Ivoire to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1992 after defeating Ghana. He also served as president of UFOA (Union of West African Football Federations), leaving a lasting legacy in West African football.
His passing comes just months after the Elephants secured their second continental title in Equatorial Guinea in 2015, a triumph he surely would have celebrated.
