AGADIR, MOROCCO — Egypt's goalkeeper stood as the last line of defense, his gloves tested five times throughout a tense encounter that ended Angola 0, Egypt 0, as the Palancas Negras peppered the goal with 16 attempts but couldn't find the breakthrough at Le Grand Stade Agadir. Egypt enjoyed the majority of possession at 55.8%, yet it was Angola who carried the greater attacking threat, launching wave after wave of attacks that ultimately crashed against a combination of heroic goalkeeping and wasteful finishing.
The match exploded into life in the 53rd minute when Fredy stepped up to take a direct free kick from 25 yards. His right-footed strike curled viciously toward goal, beating Mostafa Shobeir's desperate dive, only to cannon off the left post with a sickening thud that echoed around the stadium. Two minutes earlier, Shobeir had produced a stunning save to deny Fredy's left-footed effort from outside the box, tipping the ball over the crossbar. In the 59th minute, Egypt's best chance arrived when Zizo's right-footed shot from the right side of the box forced Hugo Marques into a spectacular save, pushing the ball away to safety. The 90th minute brought more drama as Manuel Benson curled a left-footed free kick from 20 yards that sailed agonizingly wide of the target, summing up Angola's frustrating evening.
The tactical battle centered on Angola's aggressive pressing versus Egypt's possession-based approach. Kialonda Gaspar marshaled the Angolan defense superbly, winning crucial duels and organizing the backline with authority. N'Faly Dante and David Carmo formed a solid partnership in midfield, breaking up Egyptian attacks and launching counters. For Egypt, Mohanad Lasheen battled tirelessly in the engine room before succumbing to injury in the 64th minute, forcing Mohamed Shehata into action. Ahmed Eid and Mohamed Ismaeil struggled to contain Angola's wide threats, with Zito Luvumbo and Chico Banza causing constant problems down the flanks.
Despite 16 attempts, Angola managed just four on target, highlighting their profligacy in the final third. Egypt launched only five shots at goal compared to Angola's 16, with two troubling Hugo Marques. The statistics painted a picture of Egyptian control without cutting edge, while Angola dominated territorially but lacked composure when it mattered. Egypt's goalkeeper was called into action five times, producing a man-of-the-match performance that preserved his team's clean sheet. The physical nature of the contest was evident in the 26 fouls committed, with Egypt picking up two yellow cards to Angola's one.
The turning point arrived in the 64th minute when Angola manager made a triple substitution, introducing Manuel Benson, Gelson Dala, and Show in a desperate attempt to unlock Egypt's stubborn defense. The fresh legs injected new energy into Angola's attack, with Benson immediately testing Shobeir from distance in the 71st minute. Egypt responded with their own changes, bringing on Zizo, Yasser Ibrahim, and Mostafa Fathi at halftime, shifting to a more defensive shape that frustrated Angola's increasingly frantic attacks. The final 10 minutes descended into chaos as both teams pushed for a winner, with Benson's 90th-minute free kick representing Angola's last gasp.