🔗 Share this article Egypt Bench Salah as Angola Face Elimination from AFCON. The Angolan winger curled a delightful set-piece against the post as Angola and Egypt shared a stalemate. Anfield star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as Group B winners Egypt were held to a stalemate with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The record winners, having clinched top spot, deployed an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who required a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their two points is enough to advance for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams. Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are assured of at least third place in their pools, all having three points. Match Key Moments Attacker Fredy struck the outside of a post for Angola early in the second half, while Zizo – one of three players introduced 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 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 next rival to be confirmed after the group stage finishes on Wednesday. In the simultaneous Group B closer, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Salah and Marmoush Presence The Liverpool star watched Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan likely expected a more convincing display from his rotated side. The striker, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, set up an early chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back directed his header over the target. Angola, having made multiple rotations themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before dragging a shot past the post. The first half passed without a shot on target, although Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a thunderous long-range strike. The Angolan captain was the most dangerous threat, 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 efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy could not break the deadlock, leaving the match ended goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will raise questions about their recent coaching decision.
The Angolan winger curled a delightful set-piece against the post as Angola and Egypt shared a stalemate. Anfield star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as Group B winners Egypt were held to a stalemate with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The record winners, having clinched top spot, deployed an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who required a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their two points is enough to advance for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams. Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are assured of at least third place in their pools, all having three points. Match Key Moments Attacker Fredy struck the outside of a post for Angola early in the second half, while Zizo – one of three players introduced 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 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 next rival to be confirmed after the group stage finishes on Wednesday. In the simultaneous Group B closer, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Egypt Feel Salah and Marmoush Presence The Liverpool star watched Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 tournament decider. With first place wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan likely expected a more convincing display from his rotated side. The striker, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, set up an early chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back directed his header over the target. Angola, having made multiple rotations themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before dragging a shot past the post. The first half passed without a shot on target, although Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a thunderous long-range strike. The Angolan captain was the most dangerous threat, 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 efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy could not break the deadlock, leaving the match ended goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will raise questions about their recent coaching decision.