Group B closed with two very different stories unfolding side by side, yet both matches ultimately led to the same conclusion: Egypt finished top of the section while South Africa claimed the second ticket to the Round of 16 after a dramatic final night.

In the early kickoff, Egypt and Angola played out a tense, goalless draw that felt anything but dull for long stretches. With qualification already secured, Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan rang the changes, leaving Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush on the bench and handing opportunities to the wider squad. What followed was a match shaped almost entirely by Angola’s ambition and Egypt’s discipline. The opening exchanges were cautious, both sides probing without real incision, but as the first half wore on, Angola gradually turned up the tempo and began to pin Egypt back.

Mabululu was at the heart of Angola’s attacking thrust, repeatedly testing Mostafa Shobeir with powerful drives. The Egyptian goalkeeper was forced into action several times, first smothering shots down the middle of the goal before reacting sharply to efforts from distance. Corners came and went for Angola, Fredy’s deliveries causing anxiety in the box, yet the final touch kept letting them down. Even when Beni Mukendi rose highest to meet a corner, his header drifted just wide, summing up a half where Angola had territory and pressure but no breakthrough.

Egypt’s moments were brief and sporadic. Mostafa Mohamed flashed a shot wide and Hossam Abdelmaaguid headed over from a promising cross, but for the most part the Pharaohs were content to sit deep, absorb pressure and manage the rhythm. By halftime, the score remained 0–0, though Angola had clearly been the more assertive side.

The second half followed a similar script. Angola continued to dominate possession and territory, Fredy rattling the crossbar with a fierce long-range strike that momentarily lifted the crowd. Substitutions came thick and fast on both benches as the game threatened to lose intensity, yet Angola kept pushing. Nzola, freshly introduced, fired wide, while Manuel Benson repeatedly tried his luck from distance, his shots flying just over the bar. Egypt, meanwhile, looked increasingly comfortable defending their advantage in the group standings, occasionally breaking forward through Zizo or Hamdi Fathy but rarely committing numbers.

As the final minutes ticked away, the sense grew that Egypt had achieved exactly what they wanted. Angola had controlled almost everything except the scoreboard, and when the final whistle blew on the 0–0 draw, it confirmed Egypt’s place at the top of Group B, unbeaten and efficient, if not spectacular, on the night.

While patience and caution defined that contest, chaos and drama ruled the parallel fixture in Marrakech, where South Africa and Zimbabwe produced one of the most thrilling games of the group stage. South Africa struck early, Tshepang Moremi’s low shot taking a decisive deflection to beat the goalkeeper and set the tone for an open, high-tempo encounter. Zimbabwe responded bravely, growing into the game and finding an equaliser through Tawanda Maswanhise, whose solo run past four defenders and powerful finish ignited the home crowd.

The match swung back and forth after the break. Lyle Foster restored South Africa’s lead with a commanding header from a free kick, only for Zimbabwe to respond once again, Maswanhise turning provider this time as his cross deflected off Aubrey Modiba and wrong-footed the goalkeeper to make it 2–2. With qualification hanging in the balance, both teams pushed forward, the tension palpable in every challenge and transition.

The decisive moment arrived late on. A South African attack ended with Marvelous Nakamba handling the ball inside the area as he tried to block a shot. After a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, and Oswin Appollis kept his nerve, sweeping the penalty across goal to put South Africa back in front. Zimbabwe threw bodies forward in the closing minutes, making late substitutions in search of a final lifeline, but South Africa held firm through stoppage time to secure a pulsating 3–2 victory.

By the end of the night, the picture in Group B had largely taken shape. Egypt’s measured draw was enough to secure top spot, while South Africa’s rollercoaster win confirmed them as runners-up, marking a third consecutive progression to the knockout stage. Zimbabwe’s elimination was sealed despite their spirited display, but Angola’s journey is not yet over. Currently placed fourth in the third-placed teams ranking, the Palancas Negras remain in contention for a Round of 16 berth and must now wait on the conclusion of the remaining group matches later this week to learn their fate.

Group B Final Table Standings.