Will Unwin 

Angola 0-0 Egypt: Africa Cup of Nations 2025 – as it happened

Neither side could find a winner as Egypt progress unbeaten but Angola drop out of the tournament
  
  

Angola's forward Zito Luvumbo (right) fights for the ball with Egypt's defender Hossam Abdelmaguid.
Angola's forward Zito Luvumbo (right) fights for the ball with Egypt's defender Hossam Abdelmaguid. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Thanks for joining me. Until we meet again!

Angola will be disappointed to not find a winner after a decent performance and plenty of effort but they were not good enough in the key moments. Admittedly, they will be able to make a few complaints about refereeing decisions.

Full-time! Angola 0-0 Egypt

The points means Egyptian finish top of Group B, while Angola are out of the tournament.

90+4 mins: Ary Papel twists and puts the ball into a dangerous area but there is no one waiting for it.

90+2 mins: Penalty? Modesto tries to latch onto a pass inside the box but goes down under pressure. The referee is not interested. It really is a stupid push in the back by Eid but VAR does not want to intervene. The Angola coach is, rightly, furious.

90 mins: Fredy is bundled over just outside the Egypt box. A big moment is incoming. Can the Angola skipper find the net? Oh, it is Benson instead and he sends it over.

Six minutes added on.

88 mins: Fathy smashes a shot from around 30 yards, it begins to did but goes an inch over the bar.

86 mins: Fathi comes on for the other Salah.

Angola send on Ary Papel for Mabululu.

84 mins: Angola are convinced Egypt have picked up the ball from an offside position so stop playing but the officials give nothing. They react just in time to stop any danger.

Zizo shoots from 25 yards but it is straight at the goalkeeper.

Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa

82 mins: I do not think we are going to see Mo Salah here …

80 mins: Nzola is sent on by Angola as they seek a goal. He is sent through almost immediately, he races into the area and shoots from a tight angle, thrashing the ball into the sidenetting.

78 mins: A shambles! Gaspar completely misreads a long ball, turns his back on it and then gets hit in the spine. The ball drops to Egypt and Zizo is played through but he takes far too many touches when a great chance is staring him in the face, allowing Angola to get back and win possession back with a fine last-ditch challenge from Modesto.

76 mins: Benson gets down the right and pulls the ball back into a dangerous position but it is cleared behind. It is a half decent corner but an Egypt head meets the ball.

Egypt break down the left but the counter is made redundant by an offside.

Zimbabwe 2-2 South Africa

74 mins: It is end to end stuff …

Updated

72 mins: Modesto clips a cross into the box but the goalkeeper comes to claim. The match is becoming quite frantic.

70 mins: That is a dreadful challenge. Gelson Dala is crudely taken down by Yasser, resulting the most straightforward yellow card in history. The Egyptian still finds something to complain about.

“The real fun begins now that Angola have put on a Show!” quips Peter Oh.

68 mins: Angola have a corner on the left after a defensive mix-up. Egypt make up for the error with a simple clearance, allowing them to break, only for Carmo to bring down Fathi.

66 mins: The changes should provide some impetus, with Angola eager to find a winner here.

64 mins: Lasheen is still being treated, forcing a little delay. Salah looks very comfortable on the bench. He eventually goes off, replaced by Shehata.

Show is sent for for Angola alongside Gelson Dala and Benson.

62 mins: Angola are preparing some subs, too.

61 mins: The referee calls for Lasheen to be stretchered off.

59 mins: It is quick turnover from Egypt and they drive towards the box, culminating with Zizo who takes aim for the top corner but the save is a super one, tipping the ball over.

57 mins: Luvumbo whips in a cunning cross form the right but Egyptian defenders converge, jabbing the ball towards their own goal. Thankfully for those in white, the goalkeeper is alert.

55 mins: Egypt counters but it all breaks down with a dreadful final pass.

Lyle Foster scores for South Africa to make it 2-1 against Zimbabwe.

Updated

53 mins: Fredy lines up a free-kick 25 yards from goal and it goes just wide.

51 mins: Fredy gets through to the edge of the box and smashes a shot but the goalkeeper is behind it.

49 mins: Egypt made two subs at the break with Zizou and Mostafa Fathi coming on. Saber and Mostafa Mohamed off.

47 mins: The replay shows Eid just kicks him in the shin. No penalty! I am off for a lie down.

46 mins: IT MUST BE A PENALTY! Banza is tripped in the box but the referee says no.

Second half

We go again.

Guardian Football Weekly has landed.

Half time: Angola 0-0 Egypt

Angola have been the better and more threatening team but without finding the crucial breakthrough.

45 mins: Two minutes added on.

44 mins: Fredy gets the ball around 35 yards from goal, gets it out of his feet and smashes a shot which Shobeir flies to his right to palm clear.

42 mins: So close for Banza after a lovely one-two with Mabululu but the winger slide his shot inches wide of the post.

40 mins: Banza is in a good decision in the box but gets muddled in his own mind, failing to make any decision and eventually the ball goes out for a goal-kick.

In the other Group B game, Zimbabwe and South Africa are drawing 1-1.

38 mins: After a decent spell for Angola, Egypt look to take the sting out of the game by passing it around at the back.

It works to some extent but Angola get another chance when Mabululu receives the ball on the edge of the box, only to scuff his shot.

36 mins: Shobeir is forced into after Luvumbo shoots at the first time of action but the goalkeeper gets down well.

34 mins: Banza is penalised for a silly foul on Saber. He is already on a booking, making the decision to pull back the Egyptian a bit thick. The referee has a word, I assume along the lines of ‘no more of that’.

32 mins: Everything is feeling quite rushed from both sides. This game needs a clam head.

31 mins: Fredy sends in a corner from th right, which Beni heads at the near post but it balloons up in the air, making it easy for the goalkeeper to take.

28 mins: The other Salah runs through onto a ball over the top but Marques just meets him to it outside of the box. Not that it matters because the Egyptian is offside.

Banza is now booked after lashing out at Eid. There is a little underlying spice to this game.

26 mins: Sobhy flies into Luvumbo to give away a free-kick. The referee is not happy with a comment from Adel, booking him for his verbals on debut. Fredy’s free-kick is poor and easily cleared.

24 mins: Angola think they have a corner after it is awarded by the assistant but the referee rightly overrules him. Man in the black Clement Franklin Kpan could be the star of the show for me.

Peter Oh emails: “If it’s any consolation to Mo Salah, real kings do their best work while seated.”

22 mins: Fredy gets bundled over by Lasheen on the left touchline but the referee really isn’t interest in giving fouls.

20 mins: Egypt are becoming something of a cohesive unit and becoming the more dominant side.

A long throw is launched into the box but Angola clear at the expense of a corner. It is taken shot and then lumped into the box from deep, which results in an overhead kick from Mostafa Mohamed which is sent over from close range by Hossam.

Every time there is a lull, the director picks out Mo Salah on the bench.

18 mins: Hossam is the latest to hit the deck, and fair play because Mabululu has caught him around hip height when going for the ball. The Angolan apologises for his ‘challenge’.

16 mins: The referee really is not keen on giving fouls. Banza is cleaned out at full speed and the official shakes his head. Should mean a free-flowing game …

14 mins: Marques receives a backpass from Carmo but is left in a panic, kicking it straight out for a throw in a dangerous area. The goalkeeper redeems himself by catching an incoming cross.

12 mins: Angola are looking the more eager here, understandably so considering they need to win.

10 mins: Angola have a free-kick on the right. Fredy swings it into the box but Egypt manage to clear. It comes back and Gaspar has a superb chance but his finish is very much one of a centre-back, smashing very high and wide from 12 yards.

8 mins: Not much happening on the pitch at the moment, it is all quiet pedestrian. Angola have made seven changes themselves, giving this a disjointed feel.

All that is happening is a bit of needle across the board. Salah (not that one) complains of an elbow from Carmo but it is little to nothing, but the Egyptian does spill some claret. Fredy is then taken down at the other end and wants a foul.

Updated

6 mins: Mabululu suffers a bit of pain after a poor challenge from Mohsen. The Angolan spends a bit of time on the deck but eventually gets himself up.

4 mins: Maestro catches Mostafa Mohamed with an elbow in the face but is it not malicious and we carry on.

Carmo allows an up and under to go over his head, Mostafa Mohamed sniffs a chance but the defender recovers to clear.

2 mins: Angola start by enjoying some early possession. They must be hoping the 11 Egyptians changes will make them struggle for rhythm in the early stages.

Kick off

Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!

The stadium in Agadir looks rather empty.

Tanzania are at Afcon. Read about their English players, who I went to interview.

In shocking domestic news … my neighbours have put out their green bin in anticipation of a collection tomorrow but there is not one this week. When will people learn?

In eight previous meetings, Angola have never beaten Egypt. The Pharaohs have been victorious on four occasions, with the same amount of draws. It would be a good day for Angola to notch their first triumph.

Osasu Obayiuwana offers up insight from Casablanca on the tournament’s early stages.

Here’s what happened yesterday in Morocco.

Salah is left on the bench for Egypt, allowing him a little rest before the knockout stages. Hopefully he will not be too angry and head to the mixed zone afterwards to express his views about being a sub.

Starting lineups

Egypt: Shobeir, Eid, Abdelmaguid, Ismail, K Sobhy, Fattouh, Saber, Lasheen, Adel, Mohamed, Mohsen

Subs: El Shennawy, M Sobhy, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hamdy, H Fathy, Attia, Ashour, Shehata, Trezeguet, M Fathy, Sayed Zitze, Sala, Marmoush, Faisal

Angola: Marques, Modesto, Gaspar, Carmo, Fortuna, Maestro, Beni, Fredy, Luvumbo, Mabululu, Banza

Subs: Papel, Antonio, Balburdia, Benson, Buatu, Neblu, Keliano, Mata, Afonso, Milson, Dala, Nteka, Nzola, Show

Preamble

Egypt have already secured a spot in the knockout stages but will want to go through in top spot and with a perfect record. They have edged past Zimbabwe and South Africa in their opening two group games, so will fancy a more convincing result this time around.

Angola have their own battle to win because they are aiming to get to the next stage too. Three points would be enough to get them through as one of the best-performing third-placed teams. If Egypt take their foot off the gas slightly, Angola will sense an opportunity of an upset.

Kick-off: 4pm GMT

 

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