The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) have submitted a second request to Liverpool to include forward Mohamed Salah in the squad participating in the Tokyo Olympics next summer. That is what Egypt’s U23 coach Shawki Gharib said on Thursday.

Gharib told a local radio station that they had sent an official request to Liverpool following the Pharaohs game against Comoros in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers which took place on 29 March. But the Premier League club requested for more details.

“Just after the draw on Wednesday and as soon as we got all the details, we sent them all to Liverpool. Including the match dates, trainings, hotels, and our preparatory camp. We are now waiting for Liverpool’s answer.” Gharib said. 

Egypt share a difficult group with heavyweights Spain, Argentina, and Australia. The Pharaohs will start their final preparation camp on 5 July. Their group stage games will start against Spain on 22 July, Argentina on 25 July, and Australia on 28 July.

Gharib has also revealed that he has submitted an 86-man squad list. And it will be reduced to 50 by the end of May. The final 22-man squad will be announced on 30 June.

“There are 14 players over 23 years old sent among the list, including Mohamed El-Shennawi, Ahmed Hegazi, Mohamed Elneny, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, who has now been ruled out because of his knee injury. I will have to choose only three senior players among them according to the tournament’s regulations. But I will make that decision according to our needs at the time.

“The FIFA has enlarged the number of our squads to face injuries and coronavirus infections. [The squad] will now include 22 players, including four reserve players, instead of 18.” He concluded.