The Pharaohs Bench Salah as Angola on Brink of Afcon Exit.
The Angolan winger curled a superb set-piece onto the woodwork as Angola and Egypt played out a draw.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as Group B winners Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The record winners, having clinched top spot, deployed an entirely changed starting XI and were missing a clinical finish 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 qualify for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams.
Benin, Sudan and Mozambique are already guaranteed at least third place in their pools, all having three points.
Game Highlights
Attacker Fredy struck the woodwork for Angola shortly after the second half, while Zizo – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – tested goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a effort 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 face a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their next rival to be determined after the group stage finishes on Wednesday.
In the simultaneous Group B finale, South Africa's victory over Zimbabwe propelled Bafana Bafana into the next round, putting Angola in a precarious position.
Pharaohs Miss 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 impressive display from his rotated side.
The striker, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, created an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back looped his header wide of the target.
Angola, having made multiple rotations themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza combined with Mabululu before firing a shot past the post.
The first half passed without a shot on target, though Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a thunderous long-range strike.
The Angolan captain was the likeliest source, seeing a free-kick elude 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 attempts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, ensuring the match finished goalless.
For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent performances in Morocco will lead to scrutiny about their recent managerial change.
