Hayatou – who hit the headlines two years ago when he stood as the sole candidate against FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the FIFA presidential election race – easily beat off the challenge of Botswana’s Ismael Bhamjee by 46 votes to six.
The new four-year term, taking him up to 2008, will include the key period in which an African nation is chosen to host the World Cup. Currently South Africa is favourite, with Morocco perceived as its strongest challenger. CAF has already said it will not favour any one bid.
He has been president of CAF since 1998.
Said Hayatou after the vote, quoted on FIFA's official website: "I will not shirk my responsibilities.
"African football should be run by Africans and should uphold the higher interests of Africa.”
Added Blatter: “I congratulate Issa Hayatou, who is not only a good friend of mine in the FIFA Executive Committee but also in the International Olympic Committee, to his re-election at the helm of the African Football Confederation.
"This verdict by the African associations provides for continuity, which is not only good for Africa but also for FIFA."
Hayatou, who will also serve another four years as FIFA vice-president for Africa, took the opportunity to resist calls to move the date of the African Cup of Nations, which gets underway this weekend.
European clubs have been fuming over being forced to release some of their best players so they can turn out for international duty at a key time in the domestic calendar.
Said Hayatou: “We once organised the tournament in March and then the big European clubs asked us to move it to January during the winter break.
"But with the number of tournaments, they are no longer capable of observing a winter break. Now they want us to move to a new date, but it's not possible to play in July because of the climate."
