Egypt goalkeeper coach Ahmed Nagy says veteran gloves-man Essam El-Hadary will have a place in the Pharaohs’ squad if they qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!El-Hadary made history last month when he became the oldest player to feature in an Africa Cup of Nations tournament, playing a key role for Egypt as they reached the final.
The 44-year-old is surely in the twilight of his professional career, but Nagy insists he should have the chance to play at a World Cup before he retires.
“I would like to greet El-Hadary, he is a symbol of patience and fortitude. He trains well just like his teammates and maybe even better,” Nagy told an Egyptian radio station, as quoted by KingFut.
“He has never let me down and has a continuous desire to play. I think he will live difficult moments if he retires, so I hope he continues.
“I have spoken with a friend of mine and I confirmed that we [Egypt coaching staff] will call El-Hadary for the World Cup, if he was still alive.
“Currently he is Egypt’s number 1 goalkeeper since he was playing in the last matches. El-Hadary is Africa’s greatest goalkeeper, his records and achievements speak for themselves.
“He is an exceptional case like Peter Shilton, Gianluigi Buffon and Rogerio Ceni,” he concluded.