14 Days And Counting : UCL Record Held By Ex-Chelsea, Anderlecht Star Babayaro Still Stands

Published: November 24, 2020

Celestine Babayaro's long-standing UEFA Champions League record of being the youngest-ever player to feature in the competition still stands, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Aged 16 years and 87 days then, the Chelsea legend set the record while at RSC Anderlecht after he was named in the starting lineup against FC Steaua Bucureşti on 23 November 1994.

Nigerians monitored with keen interest the matchday four fixture between Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge at Signal-Iduna-Park after manager Lucien Favre picked teenage sensation Youssoufa Moukoko in the matchday squad.

Dortmund's fourth and fifth substitute came on in the 81st minute leaving Moukoko rooted to the bench for the entirety of the game, much to the relief of Super Eagles and Anderlecht fans.

Born November 20, 2004 and aged 16 years and 4 days today, Moukoko has 14 days left to surpass Babayaro as the youngest player to debut in the Champions League.

It is a foregone conclusion that Dortmund will qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League with nine points from their first four group games but Moukoko will be 16 years and 88 days when the last sixteen begins on February 16, 2021 so he won't be able to break the record next year.

The Germany youth international would make a record-breaking debut if selected to face Lazio (December 2nd) or Zenit St. Petersburg (December 8th).

Babayaro appeared in 16 Champions League games before hanging up his boots, fifteen of them in the colours of Chelsea, where he spent seven and a half years.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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