Cairo: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been left out of Egypt’s football squad for the Tokyo Olympics, the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) announced. According, Salah’s absence from Tokyo is a result of the Premier League club’s refusal to release the talismanic forward.
Not only, Salah, Turkish side Galatasaray had also refused to release Mostafa Mohamed reportedly for the Tokyo Olympics between July 23-August 8. The 22-man squad, named by U-23 coach Shawky Gharib, includes Al-Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ittihad’s Ahmed Hegazy and Zamalek’s Mahmoud al-Wensh.
Egypt qualified for Tokyo Olympics after their U-23 AFCON triumph in 2019. They are in Group C, playing alongside Argentina, Spain, and Australia. Every participating nation has the right to include three overage players in their squad.
Wolfsburg’s Omar Marmoush has also been left out of the squad for unknown reasons as well as Aswan inform keeper Omar Radwan, El-Gouna defender El-Gazzar, and Mahmoud Marei & Ahmed Said of Wadi Degla.
Known names like Ramadan Sobhi, Taher Mohamed, Salah Mohsen, Akram Tawfik, Ahmed Yasser Rayan, Beckham, Nasser Maher, and Emam Ashour all made the squad.
Egypt squad for Tokyo Olympics
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El-Shennawy (Al Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Ittihad of Alexandria), Mahmoud Gad (ENPPI).
Defenders: Ahmed Hegazi (Ittihad Jeddah), Mahmoud El-Wensh, Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Ahmed Fetouh (Zamalek), Osama Galal (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Ramadan Beckham (Al Ahly), Karim El-Eraky (Al Masry), Karim Fouad (ENPPI).
Midfielders: Akram Tawfik, Nasser Maher (Al Ahly), Amar Hamdi (Ittihad of Alexandria), Emam Ashour (Zamalek).
Forwards: Ramadan Sobhi, Ibrahim Adel (Pyramids FC), Abdelrahman Magdy (Ismaily) Taher Mohamed, Salah Mohsen (Al Ahly), Nasser Mansi (El-Gaish), Ahmed Yasser Rayan (Ceramica Cleopatra).
