Egypt and Angola played out a 0-0 draw in their African Cup of Nations qualification Group Stage opener on Wednesday evening. The match at Cairo's stadium saw the hosts dominate possession but fail to break down a resolute Angolan defence. Both sides had their moments but neither could find the back of the net in a tight contest.
Egypt controlled 65 per cent of the ball and launched 131 attacks compared to their opponents' 109. They registered 15 shots in total—eight from inside the penalty area and seven from outside—but none found the target. Angola, despite having just 35 per cent possession, managed two shots on goal and saved the day with three crucial stops from their goalkeeper.
The first yellow card came just before half-time when Pedro Bondo Francisco went into the referee's book at 45+2 minutes. Egypt made their first change at the hour mark, bringing on Mahmoud Saber after 40 minutes. Mohamed Salah entered the fray at 61 minutes, followed by Haissem Hassan two minutes later as the hosts tried to find a winner.
Angola responded with a double substitution at 84 minutes, introducing both Mabululu and Milson in an attempt to hold on to the result. Manuel Keliano received a booking in the 85th minute, and Egypt added Mostafa Zico and Emam Ashour for their final changes at 88 minutes. The visitors managed 218 successful passes from 284 attempts while the hosts completed 477 of their 555 passes.
Egypt registered 10 corners to Angola's three, but neither side could convert their dominance into goals. The hosts committed just eight fouls while the visitors made 15. Both goalkeepers kept clean sheets—Egypt's keeper made two saves and Angola's three—reflecting the cautious nature of a match where the result mattered more than spectacle.
The draw leaves both teams with one point after their opening qualifier. Egypt's recent form includes results against Argentina, Australia, and Iran, while Angola come off a 0-0 draw with Egypt back in December 2025. It was a stalemate that gave neither side an advantage as Group Stage play continues.
