Egypt Rest Salah as The Palancas Negras Face Afcon Exit.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Etihad striker Omar Marmoush remained unused substitutes as the group leaders Egypt played out a stalemate with Angola at the Afcon 2025.

The record winners, having already secured top spot, deployed an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a clinical finish in Agadir.

Angola, who required a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now face a nervous wait to see if their two points is enough to qualify for the last 16 as one of the highest-ranked third-place teams.

Several other nations are assured of at least third place in their pools, all boasting three points.

Match Key Moments

Attacker Fredy rattled the outside of a post for Angola shortly after the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three players introduced by the Pharaohs – tested 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, respectively.

Egypt will stay in Agadir to meet a third-placed team 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 propelled Bafana Bafana through automatically, putting Angola on the outside looking in.

Pharaohs Miss Salah and Marmoush Absence

With top spot secured, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan likely expected a more impressive display from his second string.

Mostafa Mohamed, who netted four goals at the previous tournament, set up an early chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the centre-back looped his header over the target.

Angola, making seven changes themselves, almost went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before dragging a low drive wide.

The first half ended without a single effort on target, although Fredy caused goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a thunderous long-range attempt.

The Palancas Negras skipper remained the likeliest source, seeing a free-kick elude the goalkeeper but clatter against the crossbar.

At the other end, Salah Mohsen was stunned after nearly tapping in a cross, only for the move to be flagged offside.

Late efforts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy failed to break the deadlock, leaving the match finished scoreless.

For Angola, last-eight participants in 2023, their disjointed performances in Morocco will raise questions about their recent managerial change.