Sports

World's oldest footballer scores goal in Egypt third tier

Sentinel Digital Desk

Cairo: A 74-year-old man became the oldest footballer in the world to net a goal in an official tie for an Egyptian third-tier side.

On Saturday, Ezzeldin Bahader scored on his debut and is seeking recognition as the world's oldest professional footballer, and he can meet the Guinness World Records criteria of playing two official full-length matches when his club take to the field on Match 21 in their next Group Five fixture, an ESPNFC report said on Tuesday.

Israeli goalkeeper Isaak Hayik, who represented FC Ironi Or Yehuda in April 2019 at 73, currently holds the record. Bahader was born on November 3, 1945.

The attacking midfielder scored a penalty for his team as he skippered his new club to a 1-1 draw.

"I became the oldest professional footballer scoring a goal in an official game," the veteran told BBC Sport following his debut. "This is something that was achieved in the last minute of the game that I thought I wouldn't achieve. I was injured and all that I hoped for was to continue for the full 90 minutes and play the next game." IANS