🔗 Share this article The Pharaohs Rest Mohamed Salah as Angola on Brink of Afcon Exit. The Angolan winger curled a delightful set-piece against the post as the two sides played out a draw. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and were missing a clinical finish in the Moroccan city. Angola, who needed a victory to keep their hopes alive, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is enough to advance for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams. Several other nations are already guaranteed at least third place in their respective groups, all boasting three points. Game Key Moments Attacker Fredy struck the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Zizo – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' fingertips with a shot from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had scored earlier in the tournament in victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, in turn. Egypt will stay 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 victory over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Salah and Marmoush Absence Mohamed Salah observed Egypt fail to score in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place secured, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more convincing display from his second string. The striker, who scored four goals at the previous tournament, set up an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender looped his header over the target. Angola, making seven changes themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before firing a low drive past the post. The first half ended without a shot on target, though Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into a save with a powerful long-range attempt. The Angolan captain remained the most dangerous threat, watching a free-kick beat the goalkeeper but crash against the woodwork. At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after almost tapping in a cross, only for the goal to be flagged offside. Late efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, ensuring the match ended goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent performances in Morocco will raise questions about their mid-tournament managerial change.
The Angolan winger curled a delightful set-piece against the post as the two sides played out a draw. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and were missing a clinical finish in the Moroccan city. Angola, who needed a victory to keep their hopes alive, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is enough to advance for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams. Several other nations are already guaranteed at least third place in their respective groups, all boasting three points. Game Key Moments Attacker Fredy struck the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Zizo – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' fingertips with a shot from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had scored earlier in the tournament in victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, in turn. Egypt will stay 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 victory over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Salah and Marmoush Absence Mohamed Salah observed Egypt fail to score in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place secured, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more convincing display from his second string. The striker, who scored four goals at the previous tournament, set up an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender looped his header over the target. Angola, making seven changes themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before firing a low drive past the post. The first half ended without a shot on target, though Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into a save with a powerful long-range attempt. The Angolan captain remained the most dangerous threat, watching a free-kick beat the goalkeeper but crash against the woodwork. At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after almost tapping in a cross, only for the goal to be flagged offside. Late efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, ensuring the match ended goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent performances in Morocco will raise questions about their mid-tournament managerial change.