🔗 Share this article The Pharaohs Bench Mohamed Salah as Angola on Brink of Afcon Exit. Fredy curled a delightful set-piece onto the woodwork as the two sides shared a stalemate. Anfield forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as Group B winners Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who needed a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their two points is enough to qualify 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 boasting three points. Match Key Moments Attacker Fredy rattled the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a effort from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had previously found the net in comeback wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively. Egypt will remain in Agadir to meet a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their opponents to be determined after the preliminary round finishes on Wednesday. In the simultaneous Group B closer, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Star Power Absence The Liverpool star watched Egypt fail to score in an Afcon match for the first time since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more impressive display from his second string. Mostafa Mohamed, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, created an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender directed his header wide of the target. Angola, making seven changes themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before dragging a low drive wide. The first half ended without a single effort on target, though Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range attempt. The Palancas Negras skipper remained the likeliest source, watching 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 goal to be ruled offside. Late attempts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, leaving the match ended scoreless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will raise questions about their mid-tournament coaching decision.
Fredy curled a delightful set-piece onto the woodwork as the two sides shared a stalemate. Anfield forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as Group B winners Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who needed a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their two points is enough to qualify 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 boasting three points. Match Key Moments Attacker Fredy rattled the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a effort from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had previously found the net in comeback wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively. Egypt will remain in Agadir to meet a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their opponents to be determined after the preliminary round finishes on Wednesday. In the simultaneous Group B closer, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Star Power Absence The Liverpool star watched Egypt fail to score in an Afcon match for the first time since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more impressive display from his second string. Mostafa Mohamed, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, created an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender directed his header wide of the target. Angola, making seven changes themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before dragging a low drive wide. The first half ended without a single effort on target, though Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range attempt. The Palancas Negras skipper remained the likeliest source, watching 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 goal to be ruled offside. Late attempts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, leaving the match ended scoreless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will raise questions about their mid-tournament coaching decision.