A CAF statement released said 62-year-old Hayatou would be officially confirmed as leader of the 55-nation continental body at a congress in the Nigerian commercial capital Lagos next February.
Former athlete Hayatou took control in 1988 and has built a powerful support base within the Cairo-based organisation, brushing aside the few attempts to unseat him.
But the African football jury remains divided on the worth of an official who suffered an embarrassing defeat when he challenged incumbent Sepp Blatter
forthe presidency of world governing body FIFA six years ago.
Supporters point to the expansion of the showcase African Nations Cup from eight teams to 16 with a greatly enhanced worldwide image and the introduction of prize money to the Champions League and Confederation Cup club events.
But his detractors include former Cameroon superstar Roger Milla and they say he has not done enough to tackle cheating in age-limit competitions and referee bribery and is reluctant to bring former players into CAF committees.
