Hassan poised to pick up record 179th cap
Reuters - Tuesday 28 February 2012, 22:20
Egypt midfielder Ahmed
Hassan is determined to wipe out any doubts about whether he is
the most capped international in world football by playing against
Niger in Wednesday's friendly in Doha.
Football's governing body FIFA was unable to immediately
confirm on Tuesday whether Hassan had already earned a record
179th cap against Kenya on Monday because of uncertainty about
the status of that match.
The Kenyans fielded an under-23 side in the friendly while
their senior team remained in Nairobi for an African Nations Cup
qualifier on Wednesday, prompting confusion over whether Egypt's
5-0 win would be recognised as a senior international victory.
Even Hassan was unsure about the number of caps he had
collected.
"The Egyptian FA asked the Kenyan FA to hold an
international friendly between the Egyptian and Kenyan first
teams and they accepted that," the 36-year-old told Reuters in a
telephone interview.
"Kenya didn't say they would play their Olympic team.
Whatever the story is I will play against Niger to remove any
doubts regarding who is the most capped player."
Zamalek midfielder Hassan, who made his international debut
in 1995, drew level on 178 caps with Saudi Arabia goalkeeper
Mohamed Al Deayea in November when he came on as a second-half
substitute against Brazil in Doha.
The Egypt veteran has been given every opportunity to chase
the record over the last 12 months.
Last year when the team decided to blood youngsters in two
'dead' Nations Cup qualifiers, Hassan was the only senior player
kept in the side.
Egypt were scheduled to play a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier on
Wednesday but were granted a postponement after 74 fans were
killed in a riot following a league match in Port Said stadium
on February 1.