🔗 Share this article The Pharaohs Bench Salah as Angola on Brink of Elimination from AFCON. Fredy delivered a superb set-piece onto the woodwork as the two sides played out a draw. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt were held to a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an entirely changed starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who required a victory to keep their hopes alive, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is sufficient to advance for the last 16 as one of the highest-ranked third-place teams. Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are assured of at least third place in their pools, all having three points. Game Highlights Winger Fredy struck the outside of a post for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – tested goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a shot from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had previously found the net in victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, in turn. Egypt will remain in Agadir to meet a third-placed team next Monday, with their opponents to be determined after the preliminary round concludes on Wednesday. In the other Group B finale, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Pharaohs Feel Salah and Marmoush Absence Mohamed Salah watched Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 final. With top spot wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan likely expected a more convincing attacking performance from his second string. The striker, who netted four goals at the previous tournament, created 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 linked up with Mabululu before firing a shot past the post. The first half ended without a single effort on target, although Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range attempt. The Angolan captain was the most dangerous source, watching a free-kick 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 finished goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent showings in Morocco will raise questions about their recent managerial change.
Fredy delivered a superb set-piece onto the woodwork as the two sides played out a draw. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt were held to a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025. The record winners, having clinched top spot, fielded an entirely changed starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in the Moroccan city. Angola, who required a victory to keep their hopes alive, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is sufficient to advance for the last 16 as one of the highest-ranked third-place teams. Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are assured of at least third place in their pools, all having three points. Game Highlights Winger Fredy struck the outside of a post for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – tested goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a shot from inside the box. Salah and Marmoush had previously found the net in victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa, in turn. Egypt will remain in Agadir to meet a third-placed team next Monday, with their opponents to be determined after the preliminary round concludes on Wednesday. In the other Group B finale, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in. Pharaohs Feel Salah and Marmoush Absence Mohamed Salah watched Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 final. With top spot wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan likely expected a more convincing attacking performance from his second string. The striker, who netted four goals at the previous tournament, created 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 linked up with Mabululu before firing a shot past the post. The first half ended without a single effort on target, although Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range attempt. The Angolan captain was the most dangerous source, watching a free-kick 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 finished goalless. For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent showings in Morocco will raise questions about their recent managerial change.