Egypt Bench Salah as The Palancas Negras on Brink of Afcon Exit.
The Angolan winger delivered a superb free-kick against the post as Angola and Egypt shared a stalemate.
Anfield star Mohamed Salah and Manchester City counterpart Omar Marmoush watched from the bench as the group leaders Egypt were held to a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025.
The seven-time champions, having already secured top spot, fielded an entirely changed starting XI and lacked 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 solitary draw is sufficient to advance for the knockout stage as one of the four best-placed third-place teams.
Several other nations are already guaranteed at least third place in their pools, all having three points.
Match Highlights
Winger Fredy struck the woodwork for Angola early in the second half, while Zizo – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' fingertips with a shot from inside the box.
Salah and Marmoush had previously found the net in comeback wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa, in turn.
Egypt will stay in Agadir to face a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their opponents to be confirmed after the preliminary round finishes on Wednesday.
In the simultaneous Group B finale, South Africa's victory over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana into the next round, leaving Angola in a precarious position.
Pharaohs Miss Star Power Absence
Mohamed Salah observed Egypt fail to score in an Afcon match for the first time since the 2021 tournament decider.
With top spot secured, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more convincing attacking performance from his rotated side.
Mostafa Mohamed, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, set up an early chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back directed his header wide of the target.
Angola, having made multiple rotations themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before firing a shot wide.
The first half passed without a single effort on target, though Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into a save with a thunderous long-range strike.
The Angolan captain was the most dangerous source, watching a free-kick elude the goalkeeper but clatter against the woodwork.
At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after nearly tapping in a cross, only for the goal to be flagged offside.
Late efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, leaving the match ended scoreless.
For Angola, last-eight participants in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will lead to scrutiny about their mid-tournament managerial change.
