Egypt’s final Group B match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended in a goalless draw against Angola, with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush left unused on the bench. The seven-time champions had already secured top spot in the group, prompting coach Hossam Hassan to field a completely rotated starting XI in Agadir.

The match highlighted Egypt’s lack of cutting edge, with Angola pressing for a crucial win to boost their chances of qualifying for the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. Angola will now wait nervously to see if their two points are enough to advance, as Benin, Sudan, and Mozambique have already secured at least third place in their respective groups.

Early in the second half, Angola winger Fredy struck the outside of the post, a moment that nearly gave the Palancas Negras the lead. Egypt responded through Zizo, who was one of three substitutes introduced at halftime, forcing goalkeeper Hugo Marques into a save from inside the box. Despite these chances, Egypt failed to register a shot on target for the first time since the 2021 AFCON final.

Salah and Marmoush had played pivotal roles in Egypt’s previous two Group B matches, with Salah scoring in both the 2-1 comeback win over Zimbabwe and the 1-0 victory against South Africa via a penalty. Their absence was notable, as Hassan relied on his second-string players to maintain control of the game.

Mostafa Mohamed, who scored four goals in the 2023 AFCON finals, attempted an early overhead kick to set up Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the resulting header sailed over the goal. Angola’s attacking threats, including Chico Banza and Mabululu, also came close, with a slick one-two leading to a low drive narrowly wide.

Egypt’s other chances included Salah Mohsen nearly prodding in Zizo’s cross—ruled offside—and Hamdi Fathy, whose late shot narrowly missed the target. Angola captain Fredy continued to threaten, forcing saves and narrowly missing on free-kicks and strikes from distance, while M’Bala Nzola also hit the side-netting in the closing stages.

Despite the draw, Egypt will remain in Agadir to face a third-placed team from Groups A, C, or D in the knockout stage, scheduled for next Monday at 16:00 GMT. Salah and Marmoush are expected to return to the lineup, restoring Egypt’s feared first-choice strike force.

For Angola, the match underscored the challenges of maintaining form after reaching the quarter-finals in 2023. Coach Patrice Beaumelle’s decision to rotate seven players backfired, leaving his team disjointed in attack. Historically, no third-placed team has progressed from the AFCON with fewer than three points since the tournament expanded to 24 teams in 2019, highlighting the narrow margin Angola faces to advance.