Africa has produced top-notch goalkeepers in the world of football as the likes of Thomas N’kono, Joseph-Antoine Bell, Bruce Grobbelaar, Ezzaki Badou and Vincent Enyeama among others have made impacts in world football but none was as good as Essam El Hadary at the age of 44.
Essam El Hadary played in 7 AFCONS (1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2017) and won 4 as he spent 22 years with the Egyptian national team.
El Hadary is the player with the most AFCON titles (4) and won the best goalkeeper award in the 2006, 2008 and 2010 AFCONs.
El Hadary made history during the 2017 AFCON when he returned to the national team after retiring.
Nicknamed the “High Dam”, El Hadary in the 2017 AFCON replaced the injured Ahmed El-Shenaawy in Egypt’s first game of the tournament against Uganda at age 44 years and 2 days.
He saved two penalties (4-3) against Burkina Faso in the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes.
He played in the finals between Egypt and Cameroon which the Pharaohs lost 2-0 on 5th February 2017 against the Indomitable Lions. He was 44 years 21 days.
It is a record that will take decades to be broken as anyone who dares to break it will need immense consistency, willpower and dedication to even try it.
The Egyptian goalkeeper stood 6 ft 3 inches and his reflexes were excellent. His leadership at the back was unmatched and the mentality he carried was unique. He on so many occasions saved the Pharaohs with his big figure.
The former Al Ahly goalkeeper made 159 appearances for Egypt. He is regarded as the best goalkeeper in the history of the AFCON.
El Hadary at age 45 was surprisingly named in Egypt’s final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
