Angola 0-0 Egypt: Much-changed Pharaohs into AFCON knockouts as Angola fail to progress

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·29 December 2025

Angola 0-0 Egypt: Much-changed Pharaohs into AFCON knockouts as Angola fail to progress

Egypt go through, but Angola are effectively out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Angola’s hopes of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 were all but ended after they were held to a goalless Group B draw by already-qualified Egypt in Agadir.

OneFootball Videos

The southern African side effectively needed a win to maintain any realistic prospect of progressing, either in second place or as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.

South Africa’s 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in the group’s other fixture meant a top-two finish would have been out of reach for Angola even with a victory, but failure to beat the group-winning Pharaohs means that - with only two points - the best they can now hope for is to be the fourth-ranked third-place side.

Egypt had already secured progression to the knockout stages, having beaten Bafana Bafana and the Zimbabweans in their first two games, and manager Hossam Hassan therefore rested their key players including Mohamed Salah, who watched the entire match on Monday from the bench after scoring the winners in each prior outing.

Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, who scored in his country’s comeback win over the Warriors on matchday one, was also given a full rest.

Angola created the clearest chances throughout a tense afternoon at Adrar Stadium, registering four shots on target out of a total 16 compared to Egypt’s two from five, but could not find the clinical final touch required to give themselves a chance of an upset.

Indeed, Patrice Beaumelle’s men came closest to scoring when midfielder Fredy clipped the outside of the post from a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Angola’s Fredy hits the post from a free-kick early in the second half

AFP via Getty Images

WIth Beaumelle naming Gelson Dala and Show - Angola’s two goal-scorers at this tournament - among the substitutes, it was centre-back Hossam Abdelmaguid who nearly broke the deadlock in the opening stages when he headed over following an overhead kick from Mostafa Mohamed.

Chico Banza shot wide shortly before half-time after a neat one-two with frontline teammate Mabululu, who tested Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir a few times himself. Dala and Show were both thrown into the fray in the second period as each side pushed for a go-ahead goal, but a winless group stage means Angola’s 2025 AFCON campaign is effectively over at the first hurdle.

Egypt also lacked a cutting edge without the likes of Salah and Marmoush, with substitute Zizo failing to capitalise on a couple of chances late on.