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      Liverpool handed major boost as Egypt reveal they WON’T call-up Mo Salah for Tokyo Olympics if Reds object

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      LIVERPOOL have been handed a boost after Egypt revealed they would not call up Mo Salah for the Olympics next summer without the Reds’ permission.
      Salah became the latest in a long line of absences for Liverpool’s clash with Leicester this weekend after testing positive for coronavirus during the international break.

      Salah tested positive for coronavirus during the international break

      Amid the controversy, Egypt Olympic coach Shawky Gharieb has reassured Liverpool that Salah will not receive a call-up for the Tokyo Games without the Reds’ say-so.
      Gharieb told MBC Maser: “We will speak with Liverpool in March.
      “We haven’t discussed the issue [a potential Olympic call-up] with the player yet.
      “The problem is that the African Cup of Nations will be played a few months after the Olympics, but the latter will end and the Premier League will start three days after.

      “But we can’t call up Salah unless Liverpool approve.”
      A call up for both tournaments would see Salah miss a considerable chunk of the 2021-22 campaign.
      The men’s Olympic competition will take place between July 22 and August 7 and coincide with the Reds’ pre-season, while the rescheduled African Cup of Nations is due to be played in January and February of 2022.
      Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp spoke in February about the possibility of losing Salah when it looked as though both tournaments would take place during the 2020-21 season.

      Klopp said: “Do I want to lose a player in the pre-season? No. Of course not.
      “But we have to consider different things. I will speak with Mo and all that stuff.
      “We are completely clear about what we want, but we need more information – how will it look, when will the preparation start, all that stuff, and nobody has really contacted us so far, it’s just in the media.
      “But come on, it’s the Olympic Games, I’m still a sports person, the Olympics is the Olympics, but we have to see.”
      Salah travelled to Egypt to take part in his nation’s AFCON qualifiers but was seen dancing with guests at his brother’s wedding before meeting up with the national side.
      Salah also attended an Egyptian FA awards bash a day prior to the celebrations before testing positive last Friday.
      The 28-year-old remains asymptomatic and despite turning in three more positive tests, he was given permission to fly back to the UK on Friday and will self-isolate before being tested again on Sunday.

      Liverpool star Mo Salah tests positive for coronavirus after linking up with Egypt national team More

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      Watch Riyad Mahrez score outrageous goal for Algeria with stunning flick before turning defenders inside out vs Zimbabwe

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      RIYAD MAHREZ scored an outrageous goal in Monday’s thrilling African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe.
      Already leading 1-0 at the time, the Manchester City winger, 29, showed off every morsel of his class to double his side’s lead.

      Riyad Mahrez showed off his incredible first touch as he scored a stunning goal for AlgeriaCredit: beIN Sports

      After snuffing out a Zimbabwe attack, the ball fell to West Ham star Said Benrahma deep in Algeria’s half.
      Benrahma pinged a millimetre-perfect cross-field ball to Mahrez on the right-wing.
      The ex-Leicester ace controlled the ball beautifully with a soft flick off his heel.
      Mahrez then turned his defender not once, but twice to create some room.

      He then rifled home an unstoppable strike with his weaker, right foot to give Algeria a commanding 2-0 lead just 38 minutes into the game.
      However, Zimbabwe came storming back from the dead, with Knowledge Musonda getting a goal back moments before the break.
      The comeback was complete on 82 minutes after Prince Dube – only on the pitch a matter of seconds – grabbed the all-important equaliser.
      Algeria are the reigning Afcon champions, having beaten Senegal 1-0 in the 2019 final.

      Mahrez turned his man twice to create space and fire home a powerful shotCredit: beIN Sports

      And they are still in good shape to have another run at glory this year – comfortably top of their qualifying group.
      The draw against Zimbabwe saw them drop their first points of the campaign, winning their previous three – but was still enough to ensure they qualified for the tournament proper.
      Algeria now sit five points clear of Zimbabwe in second, with games against Zambia and Botswana to come.

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      Sadio Mane misses open goal in shocking howler for Senegal in African qualifier

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      SADIO MANE missed an open goal as Senegal beat Guinea-Bissau 1-0.
      The Liverpool superstar took the ball off team-mate Boulaye Dia’s foot after the Reims striker had rounded the goalkeeper.

      Boulaye Dia rounds the Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper

      Sadio Mane takes the ball off of his team-mate’s foot with the goal gaping

      The Liverpool star gets his first-time effort horribly wrong

      The ball hits the side netting and the score stays 0-0

      But Mane could only find the side netting with his first-time effort.
      Mane made up for his howler by scoring an 82nd-minute winner to book Senegal’s place at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
      Cutting in from the left, Mane exchanged passes with Habib Diallo before poking the ball past Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Jonas Mendes.
      The goal was Mane’s 21st for the Lions of Teranga.

      He is now just eight goals behind ex-Wolves and Wigan striker Henri Camara’s record of 29 for his country.
      Mane was also on the scoresheet against Guinea-Bissau when the two sides’ met on Wednesday in the reverse fixture – a 2-0 win for Senegal.
      Sunday’s victory made it four wins from four for Aliou Cisse’s side in AFCON qualifying.
      They became the first team to qualify for the continental showpiece after hosts Cameroon.

      Mane later recovered from his miss to score his nation’s winner

      The tournament was originally set to be played in January and February 2021 but was pushed back due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
      The final two rounds of qualifying will be played in March 2021.
      Algeria are the defending champions after beating Senegal in the final of the 2019 edition.

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      Egypt expect Mo Salah to play at Tokyo Olympics next summer will fly to Liverpool for showdown talks with Jurgen Klopp

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      EGYPT Olympic bosses expect Mo Salah to be part of the Tokyo Olympics – and will meet Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp for showdown talks.
      SunSport understands Salah, 28, will be the first name on the teamsheet for the rescheduled Games in Japan.

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      Liverpool star Mo Salah is expected to lead the way for Egypt in the delayed Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Rex Features

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      Egypt’s Olympic coach Shawky Gharib is determined to have Salah in his teamCredit: AFP – Getty
      And the Pharaohs are prepared to fly to Anfield to explain why the star striker should put country before club in 2021.
      It would mean he will play throughout next summer and miss the start of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
      Shawky Gharib, coach of the Egyptian Olympic National team, said: “The only and first name I put in the squad is Mohamed Salah.
      “All Egyptian players would like to have the honour to play in the Olympics but all of us wanted Salah so he will be with us.

      “I’m ready to put all the pressure on Liverpool to accept his participation, and I could travel to England for that.
      “I remember when I was the assistant coach of the Egyptian National Team.
      “I travelled to Germany to meet Jurgen Klopp and convince him to let Mohamed Zidan join the team and he accepted.
      “We will use Salah of course and the Egyptian Football Federation will play a role.”

      Another complicating factor for Liverpool is that Salah would be called up for the Africa Cup of Nations if Egypt qualify.
      The event in Cameroon has been moved back 12 months to January 2022.
      Gharib added that they are also planning to speak with Aston Villa midfielder Trezeguet about the prospects of going to the Olympics.

      Mo Salah’s amazing body transformation from skinny Chelsea flop to ripped Liverpool superstar More

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      Chelsea signing Hakim Ziyech tops list of Prem stars set to miss big chunk of next season due to Africa Cup of Nations

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      CHELSEA confirmed Hakim Ziyech will join next season – but he is set to miss a chunk of the campaign due to the Africa Cup of Nations. Frank Lampard’s side reached an agreement for the Morocco international to make the £37million move from Ajax in the summer. Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech will join Chelsea next season […] More

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      Egypt confirm Mo Salah WILL play in 2020 Olympics with Liverpool star set to miss weeks of season through tournaments

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      MOHAMED SALAH could be set to miss the start of next season after Egypt confirmed their plan to call-up the Liverpool star for the 2020 Olympics. The countries Under-23s boss Shawky Gharib has said that the 27-year-old would be named as one of the three senior stars for the Tokyo event. Mohamed Salah may miss […] More

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      Arsenal and Liverpool set to lose their best players for six weeks next season with AFCON 2021 taking place in winter

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      LIVERPOOL face losing Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for SIX weeks next season after the Africa Cup of Nations was moved back to the winter. The potentially massive blow to Jurgen Klopp’s side was confirmed by African football chiefs. Liverpool look set to lose star men Sadio Mane and Mo Salah for six […] More