Egypt U23 national team manager Shawky Gharib admits the African Cup of Nations was the key reason why Liverpool blocked Mohamed Salah from Olympic Games selection.

Gharib says that if AFCON was taking place next summer instead of January 2022 the Reds would've allowed him to travel to Tokyo.

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

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

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