The 66-year-old Cameroonian, first elected in 1988, has claimed this will be his final term in office. 

Hayatou received warm applause from delegates at the CAF Congress in Marrakech, and also received a special certificate from FIFA President Sepp Blatter to commemorate his silver jubilee on the ruling Executive Committee of the world governing body.

"Congratulated Issa Hayatou for 25 years of CAF Presidency and reelection today. A great and committed football leader," Blatter wrote on Twitter.

Ivorian Jacques Anouma had wanted to oppose Hayatou at the elections, but a controversial rule change prevented him from doing so.

His attempt to overturn the decision to disqualify non-executive members from the election was rejected by the Court of Arbitration For Sport (CAS).

Anouma was criticised by Hayatou, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), following his re-election.

"Presidents of the national federations approved an amendment preventing a few of them from participating in the race for the CAF Presidency," Hayatou told the audience.

"The amendment permits only those who have held positions of responsibility within the institution to run for the Presidency.

"The principle of the sovereignty of the general assembly was recognised by CAS."


But there was controversy after Mali's Amadou Diakite returned to international football administration when he won a place on the Executive Committee despite having been banned for two years by FIFA in November 2010 for his part in the bribery scandal that overshadowed the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. 

He was elected by an overwhelming majority ahead of Danny Jordaan, who had led South Africa's successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was then chief executive, who again was overlooked.

The FIFA ban on Diakite was imposed after claims about bribery reported by the Sunday Times newspaper were reported to a British Parliamentary enquiry.

Diakite was removed from FIFA's Referees Committee and fined 10,000 Swiss francs after he was found to have broken rules on general conduct and loyalty and of failing to report evidence of misconduct in relation to the case.

Diakite was one of five elected to the Committee, including CAF vice-president Suketu Patel of the Seychelles who retains his seat from the southern African zone.

The other seat from the region was won by Madagascar's Ahmad, who uses only one name, in a run off with Jordaan.

Neither earned the requisite majority in the first poll but Ahmad won the run-off 27 to 21.

The other newcomer is Moucharafou Anjorin of Benin, who beat off the Nigerian Football Federation President Aminu Maigari in a run off for one of the west African berths.

He was arrested two years ago on allegations of embezzling sponsorship money and spent more than six months in jail.

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Related stories
March 2013: Anouma CAF Presidency appeal thrown out leaving path clear for Hayatou
February 2013: If I'm elected, this will be my last term, claims CAF boss Hayatou
December 2012: Hayatou to be unopposed in CAF Presidential elections after challenger barred from running
December 2012: Anouma to challenge Hayatou for African football Presidency
November 2012: CAS investigating African football's Presidential vote rules