Egypt Gharib explains why Mohamed Salah was refused Olympics participation

Mohamed Salah

Egypt’s Olympics team head coach Shawky Gharib has revealed the reason why he did not include Mohamed Salah among the three overage players for July’s Tokyo Olympics.

Liverpool official rejected the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) request as they don’t want to miss Salah’s services for the beginning of the season as he will miss at least the first two Premier League games.

Liverpool board exercised their rights to block the 28-year-old because they will let him go for the forthcoming AFCON in January for one month.

Read more : Egypt to play Olympic games without Salah, Mostafa

It has been revealed that Salah himself wanted to play the Olympics, but could not go against his club’s decision.

“Salah wanted to participate in the Olympics, we were having informal contacts with him, but the negotiations stopped because of the AFCON,” Gharib said On Sport FM.

“If it had been postponed, Salah would have played with us.

“Liverpool clarified for the Egyptian Football Association when Salah will be available.

“We started talking with them a long time ago because Salah wanted to play the Olympic Games, but Liverpool were unclear”, Ahmed Megahed, chairman of the Egypt FA said.

“I knew in June they would not let him go.

“Anyway we respect their decision.”


Aimé ATTI

Aimé ATTI is a bilingual journalist who breathes football and shares his passion on Africa Top Sports

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