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34 mins: Banza is penalised for a silly foul on Saber. He is already on a booking, making the decision to pull back the Egyptian a bit thick. The referee has a word, I assume along the lines of ‘no more of that’.
32 mins: Everything is feeling quite rushed from both sides. This game needs a clam head.
31 mins: Fredy sends in a corner from th right, which Beni heads at the near post but it balloons up in the air, making it easy for the goalkeeper to take.
28 mins: The other Salah runs through onto a ball over the top but Marques just meets him to it outside of the box. Not that it matters because the Egyptian is offside.
Banza is now booked after lashing out at Eid. There is a little underlying spice to this game.
26 mins: Sobhy flies into Luvumbo to give away a free-kick. The referee is not happy with a comment from Adel, booking him for his verbals on debut. Fredy’s free-kick is poor and easily cleared.
24 mins: Angola think they have a corner after it is awarded by the assistant but the referee rightly overrules him. Man in the black Clement Franklin Kpan could be the star of the show for me.
Peter Oh emails: “If it’s any consolation to Mo Salah, real kings do their best work while seated.”
22 mins: Fredy gets bundled over by Lasheen on the left touchline but the referee really isn’t interest in giving fouls.
20 mins: Egypt are becoming something of a cohesive unit and becoming the more dominant side.
A long throw is launched into the box but Angola clear at the expense of a corner. It is taken shot and then lumped into the box from deep, which results in an overhead kick from Mostafa Mohamed which is sent over from close range by Hossam.
Every time there is a lull, the director picks out Mo Salah on the bench.
18 mins: Hossam is the latest to hit the deck, and fair play because Mabululu has caught him around hip height when going for the ball. The Angolan apologises for his ‘challenge’.
16 mins: The referee really is not keen on giving fouls. Banza is cleaned out at full speed and the official shakes his head. Should mean a free-flowing game …
14 mins: Marques receives a backpass from Carmo but is left in a panic, kicking it straight out for a throw in a dangerous area. The goalkeeper redeems himself by catching an incoming cross.
12 mins: Angola are looking the more eager here, understandably so considering they need to win.
10 mins: Angola have a free-kick on the right. Fredy swings it into the box but Egypt manage to clear. It comes back and Gaspar has a superb chance but his finish is very much one of a centre-back, smashing very high and wide from 12 yards.
8 mins: Not much happening on the pitch at the moment, it is all quiet pedestrian. Angola have made seven changes themselves, giving this a disjointed feel.
All that is happening is a bit of needle across the board. Salah (not that one) complains of an elbow from Carmo but it is little to nothing, but the Egyptian does spill some claret. Fredy is then taken down at the other end and wants a foul.
6 mins: Mabululu suffers a bit of pain after a poor challenge from Mohsen. The Angolan spends a bit of time on the deck but eventually gets himself up.
4 mins: Maestro catches Mostafa Mohamed with an elbow in the face but is it not malicious and we carry on.
Carmo allows an up and under to go over his head, Mostafa Mohamed sniffs a chance but the defender recovers to clear.
2 mins: Angola start by enjoying some early possession. They must be hoping the 11 Egyptians changes will make them struggle for rhythm in the early stages.
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The stadium in Agadir looks rather empty.
The transfer window is almost upon us.
Tanzania are at Afcon. Read about their English players, who I went to interview.
In shocking domestic news … my neighbours have put out their green bin in anticipation of a collection tomorrow but there is not one this week. When will people learn?
In eight previous meetings, Angola have never beaten Egypt. The Pharaohs have been victorious on four occasions, with the same amount of draws. It would be a good day for Angola to notch their first triumph.
Osasu Obayiuwana offers up insight from Casablanca on the tournament’s early stages.
Here’s what happened yesterday in Morocco.
Salah is left on the bench for Egypt, allowing him a little rest before the knockout stages. Hopefully he will not be too angry and head to the mixed zone afterwards to express his views about being a sub.
Starting lineups
Egypt: Shobeir, Eid, Abdelmaguid, Ismail, K Sobhy, Fattouh, Saber, Lasheen, Adel, Mohamed, Mohsen
Subs: El Shennawy, M Sobhy, Ibrahim, Rabia, Hamdy, H Fathy, Attia, Ashour, Shehata, Trezeguet, M Fathy, Sayed Zitze, Sala, Marmoush, Faisal
Angola: Marques, Modesto, Gaspar, Carmo, Fortuna, Maestro, Beni, Fredy, Luvumbo, Mabululu, Banza
Subs: Papel, Antonio, Balburdia, Benson, Buatu, Neblu, Keliano, Mata, Afonso, Milson, Dala, Nteka, Nzola, Show
Preamble
Egypt have already secured a spot in the knockout stages but will want to go through in top spot and with a perfect record. They have edged past Zimbabwe and South Africa in their opening two group games, so will fancy a more convincing result this time around.
Angola have their own battle to win because they are aiming to get to the next stage too. Three points would be enough to get them through as one of the best-performing third-placed teams. If Egypt take their foot off the gas slightly, Angola will sense an opportunity of an upset.
Kick-off: 4pm GMT
