Angola 0-0 Egypt: Salah left on bench in goalless draw

Mohamed Salah did not feature as Egypt secured top spot in Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations by drawing 0-0 with Angola.

With Egypt already sure of their place in the knockout stage, talisman Salah was left on the bench for Monday’s clash at Stade d’Agadir.

Egypt knew they had already sealed top spot in the group by beating South Africa last time out, so coach Hossam Hassan Hussein elected to rest star forwards Salah and Omar Marmoush.

A low-key encounter failed to offer much in the way of excitement, though Angola did hit the woodwork through Fredy early in the second half.

There was much more drama in the other Group B encounter, as South Africa booked their progression with a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe, who were eliminated in the process.

South Africa took a seventh-minute lead when Tshepang Moremi’s strike deflected in, but Zimbabwe hit back through Tawanda Maswanhise’s fine finish at the end of a brilliant run.

Silence speaks loud. Maswanhise. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WeCelebrateDifferent pic.twitter.com/tSWEmD6JgK

— TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 (@TotalAFCON2025) December 29, 2025

Lyle Foster headed home to put South Africa back ahead five minutes into the second half, only for Zimbabwe – who saw Maswanhise strike the woodwork – to again restore parity when Aubrey Modiba diverted the ball into his own net.

Yet an inexplicable handball from Marvelous Nakamba gifted South Africa a penalty, which was coolly dispatched by Oswin Appollis.

Data Debrief: Egypt stall without Salah

Salah and Marmoush have been responsible for Egypt’s three goals at this tournament so far, and the Pharaohs were certainly flat in attack without their star names, managing just five attempts and only two on target.

Egypt rounded off with 0.62 expected goals to Angola’s 0.77, though the latter side did have 16 attempts, showing they were low-quality opportunities as they were condemned to a third-place finish in the group.

South Africa, meanwhile, were much more impressive. While slack defensively, they had nine shots on target and 16 overall, finishing with 1.61 xG, way higher than their 0.6 average across their opening two games.

Appollis was their main threat, as he led the way with four attempts, hitting the target three times.