EGYPTIAN brothers Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan have become the first African members of the Century Club, FIFA said on Monday.
The club comprises players who have represented their countries in at least 100 competitive or friendly internationals and is headed by Lothar Matthaus of Germany and Thomas Ravelli of Sweden with 143 caps each.
Retired Saudi Arabian star Majed Abdullah lies third with 140 caps.
Striker Hossam Hassan, who made his debut for the Pharaohs in 1985 and has spent most of his career with the Al-Ahly club in Cairo, has been credited with 131 caps.
Defender Ibrahim Hassan, first capped in 1988 and also a long-serving member of Al-Ahly, has played for Egypt 103 times during a career in which his explosive temper has led to constant clashes with officialdom.
Lack of official records in most African countries has deprived many other stars like Roger Milla of Cameroon and Abedi Pele of Ghana of places in the Century Club.