Egypt Rest Salah as The Palancas Negras on Brink of Afcon Exit.
Fredy curled a delightful free-kick onto 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 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The record winners, having already secured top spot, fielded an completely rotated starting XI and lacked a cutting edge in Agadir.
Angola, who needed a victory to stand a chance of progressing, will now endure an anxious period to see if their solitary draw is enough 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 boasting three points.
Match Key Moments
Attacker Fredy struck the outside of a post for Angola early in the second half, while Egypt's substitute – one of three halftime changes by the Pharaohs – stung goalkeeper Hugo Marques' palms with a shot from inside the box.
Salah and Marmoush had scored earlier in the tournament in comeback wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa, respectively.
Egypt will stay in Agadir to meet a runner-up from another group next Monday, with their next rival to be confirmed after the group stage concludes on Wednesday.
In the simultaneous Group B finale, South Africa's 3-2 win over Zimbabwe sent Bafana Bafana into the next round, leaving Angola in a precarious position.
Egypt Feel Salah and Marmoush Presence
The Liverpool star observed Egypt draw a blank in an Afcon match for the first occasion since the 2021 tournament decider.
With top spot wrapped up, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan might have hoped for a more impressive attacking performance from his rotated side.
The striker, who scored four goals at the 2023 finals, set up an first-half chance for Hossam Abdelmaguid, but the defender directed his header wide of the target.
Angola, making seven changes themselves, nearly went ahead when Chico Banza linked up with Mabululu before firing a low drive wide.
The first half ended without a single effort on target, though Fredy forced goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir into action with a thunderous long-range strike.
The Palancas Negras skipper was the likeliest source, watching a set-piece elude the goalkeeper but crash 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 attempts from M'Bala Nzola and Hamdi Fathy could not break the deadlock, leaving the match finished goalless.
For Angola, quarter-finalists in 2023, their inconsistent showings in Morocco will raise questions about their mid-tournament managerial change.
