Egypt Rest Salah as The Palancas Negras Face Afcon Exit.

An exciting set-piece moment from the match.

Fredy curled a superb set-piece against the woodwork as Angola and Egypt shared a stalemate.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Etihad striker Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt played out a draw with Angola at the Afcon 2025.

The seven-time champions, having already secured top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and were missing a clinical finish in Agadir.

Angola, who required a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is sufficient to advance for the last 16 as one of the four best-placed third-place teams.

Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are already guaranteed at least third place in their pools, all having three points.

Game Highlights

Winger Fredy rattled the outside of a post for Angola shortly after the second half, while Zizo – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – tested goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a shot from inside the box.

Salah and Marmoush had scored earlier in the tournament in victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively.

Egypt will stay in Agadir to meet a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their opponents to be confirmed after the preliminary round concludes on Wednesday.

In the simultaneous Group B closer, South Africa's victory over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, leaving Angola in a precarious position.

Egypt Miss Salah and Marmoush Presence

Mohamed Salah observing the match from the sidelines.

Mohamed Salah watched Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first time since the 2021 tournament decider.

With first place secured, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more impressive display from his rotated side.

The striker, who scored four goals at the previous tournament, set up an early chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back looped his header over the target.

Angola, making multiple rotations themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza combined with Mabululu before dragging a shot wide.

The first half ended without a single effort on target, though Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range attempt.

The Palancas Negras skipper remained the likeliest source, seeing a set-piece elude the goalkeeper but crash against the crossbar.

At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after nearly prodding in a cross, only for the move to be ruled offside.

Late attempts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy could not break the deadlock, ensuring the match finished scoreless.

For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent performances in Morocco will lead to scrutiny about their mid-tournament managerial change.

Erica Neal
Erica Neal

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and global systems analysis.