Egypt will play at the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo after they qualified when they won the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. The Pharaohs will be participating in Group C, the “group of death”, alongside Spain, Argentina and Australia. However, they won’t have Mohamed Salah in their fight for the gold in soccer.
The Olympic Games are not considered a soccer major tournament. That’s why the countries send their U-23 players. Nevertheless, each nation is allowed to have three players overage in their roster. Egypt was hoping that Salah could have joined them in Tokyo.
Salah played at the 2012 London Olympic Games, when Egypt reached the quarterfinals. He scored in their three group stage games and was hoping to help his country at these Olympics too. Here, check out why he won’t be a part of the team.
Why Mohamed Salah won’t be playing for Egypt in Tokyo 2020?
Mohamed Salah can’t take part in the Olympics because Liverpool refused to let him go, as the Games interfere with the start of the new season. They can do that, as the tournament is primarily for U-23 players.
Ahmed Megahed, president of the Egypt Football Association, said last month that the participation of Salah in the tournament was “difficult.” Also, he said that they contacted him and Salah was willing to lead the team in the Olympics, however Liverpool didn’t release him.
Another reason for Liverpool to not let him go is because the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in January 2022. That means that the English club will lose him for at least one month in the middle of the season.
