Egypt, the leader of Group Two, settled for a goalless draw with Angola in the third round of the African Cup of Nations, while South Africa finished as runner-up after beating Zimbabwe 3-2.
Egypt (7 points) secured the top spot in the group in the second round after two successive wins and qualified for the final 16, before a goalless draw with Angola, which finished third with two points, compared to six points for South Africa and one point for Zimbabwe.
The Egyptian team played the match with a large number of substitutes, as coach Hossam Hassan preferred to make wholesale changes and rest some of the key players, led by captain Mohamed Salah and goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Salah scored the winning goal against South Africa from a penalty kick in the 45th minute in the second round, and he also gave his country the first victory with a late goal in the 90th minute + 1 over Zimbabwe (2-1).
The most dangerous opportunity for the Egyptian national team in the first half came in the 20th minute after Mahmoud Saber sent a cross, which Mostafa Mohamed met with a double backhand, before the ball reached Hossam Abdel Majeed. But his header went over the crossbar from close range.
The Angolan national team dominated the last half of the half, and in the 36th minute, Mapulolo passed from the left side and shot a powerful ball that Mustapha Schubert firmly blocked.
In the 42nd minute, Chico Panza exchanged the ball with Mabololo, who was alone with Schubert’s goal and shot a shot that slightly missed the goal.
Before the end of the first half, Angola captain Freddy shot a powerful ball from a long distance, but Schubert blocked it brilliantly. The first half ended in a scoreless draw.
At the beginning of the second half, Hossam Hassan brought in the trio of Yasser Ibrahim, Mostafa Fathi, and Ahmed Sayed “Zizou,” but Freddy almost took the lead for Angola when he shot a powerful ball from a direct free kick that bounced off the right post and out of the field (50).
Zizou shot a powerful ball after receiving Ibrahim Adel’s pass, but the goalkeeper deflected it for a corner kick (60).
Muhannad Lashin was injured. Which prompted Hossam Hassan to include Mohamed Shehata instead (64).
Substitute Hamdi Fathi shot a powerful ball that touched the crossbar and went for a goal kick (86).
AFP
