Egypt Rest Salah as Angola Face Elimination from AFCON.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as the group leaders Egypt were held to a draw with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The record winners, having already secured top spot, deployed an entirely changed starting XI and were missing a clinical finish 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 sufficient to advance for the last 16 as one of the highest-ranked third-place teams.

Several other nations are already guaranteed at least third place in their respective groups, all boasting three points.

Game Highlights

Attacker Fredy rattled the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – tested 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 stay in Agadir to face a third-placed team next Monday, with their next rival to be confirmed after the preliminary round finishes on Wednesday.

In the other Group B finale, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana through automatically, leaving Angola on the outside looking in.

Pharaohs Miss Star Power Presence

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

The striker, who scored four goals at the previous tournament, created an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender directed his header wide of the target.

Angola, making multiple rotations themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza combined with Mabululu before firing a shot past the post.

The first half ended without a shot on target, although Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a powerful long-range strike.

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

At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after almost prodding in a cross, only for the move to be flagged 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 performances in Morocco will raise questions about their recent coaching decision.