Africa Cup Of Nations | Friday December 26 | Group B
- Egypt 1-0 South Africa
- Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe
Mohamed Salah continues to make the difference when Egypt need him most.
On another defining afternoon at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, the captain’s composure and authority carried the Pharaohs out of Group B to the Knockout stage, as Angola and Zimbabwe finally got off the mark elsewhere.
For the second game in a row, Salah delivered in Agadir. Three days after his late winner against Zimbabwe, the Liverpool forward was again the decisive figure on Friday, guiding Egypt to a tense 1–0 victory over South Africa and sealing first place in the group.
The turning point came just before half-time. Salah darted into the area and was clipped by Khuliso Mudau’s raised arm. There was no drama from the spot.
The Egyptian skipper stepped up and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, a finish that summed up his leadership throughout the tournament.
Moments later, Egypt were dealt a blow when Mohamed Hany was shown a second yellow card.
Down to 10 men, the Pharaohs dug deep. They dropped into shape, defended with discipline and absorbed wave after wave of South African pressure.
When the final whistle sounded, it confirmed more than just three points, it showed Egypt’s control of Group B.
With two wins from two matches, Egypt are now assured of top spot. Even with a final group game against Angola on December 29, the head to head rules mean South Africa cannot catch them.
Earlier in the day, attention had shifted to Stade de Marrakech, where Angola and Zimbabwe shared a 1–1 draw that kept faint qualification hopes alive for both sides.
Angola struck first after 24 minutes with a well-worked goal. Tó Carneiro slipped a precise pass through the defence and Gelson Dala finished low into the corner, rewarding Angola’s positive start.
Zimbabwe responded just before the break. A quick counter attack caught Angola open, and Knowledge Musona showed his experience with a composed finish from Bill Antonio’s pass deep into first-half stoppage time.
The second half saw Angola control the ball and push forward, but clear chances were hard to come by.
Zimbabwe stayed compact and dangerous on the break, ensuring the contest remained tight until the end.
In the end, both teams claimed their first point of the tournament.
It was not the win either side wanted, but it keeps their campaigns alive, with everything now riding on the remaining group matches.
Current Standings | Group B
