Fahmy fought a two-year battle with cancer, as reported by Sport Business, undergoing surgery for a brain tumour just before he was dismissed from his position as general secretary last April. 

"It is with great deal of sadness and emotions that we received the shock news," said a statement on the CAF website.

"On behalf of CAF, we extend our deepest condolences to his family especially his parents, his spouse and daughter."

Fahmy was appointed as general secretary in November 2017.

His grandfather Mourad had previously held the post from 1961 through to 1982, before his son Mustapha took over and stayed into the post until 2010.

Fahmy was fired in April after reportedly accusing Ahmad of a series of offences, including alleged bribes, sexual harassment and misuse of the organisation's finances.

According to Reuters, Fahmy accused Ahmad of ordering bribes of $20,000 (£15,000/€17,000) be paid into accounts of African Football Association presidents.

He was also alleged to have spent CAF funds on cars.

Fahmy filed the complaints with the FIFA Ethics Committee, which is still investigating them.

In July, Ahmad was briefly detained by French authorities in Paris as part of a separate corruption probe.

In addition, an independent audit carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers also found CAF accounting records to be "unreliable and not trustworthy" just this month. 

Before his death, Fahmy had revealed to the BBC Sport that he planned to run to be President of the troubled organisation, organising a campaign that would be "pro-Africa, pro-football and anti-corruption."

Elections are scheduled to take place in 2021.