Africa Cup of Nations 2013 TV Schedule: Day 2 Live-Stream Info and Predictions
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations got off to a slow start on Saturday, as the host nation played to a draw with Cape Verde in the first match while Angola and Morocco did the same in the second match of the day.
On Sunday, the action will pick up, as the Democratic Republic of the Congo will square off against favored Ghana in the first match. The second match will featured Niger and Mali, two teams regionally close that will fight for pride and bragging rights.
Despite the lack of goals on Saturday, Sunday has four teams that can put the ball in the net, and we aren't likely to play to four draws in four matches.
That being said, here's a look at where you can catch all the Day 2 action, including a brief look at the two matchups and where to find live broadcasts of the two matches on Sunday.
Where: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
When: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET Saturday
Stage: Group B
Watch: EuroSport (Live Stream Only in U.S.)
Live Stream: ESPN3.com
Ghana vs. DR Congo: 10:00 a.m. ET
Ghana enters the tournament as one of the favorites, as a talented squad will try and put the pieces together. Looking for a fifth Cup of Nations title, the Black Stars will enter Jan. 20's action with a chip on their shoulder and a 2012 World Cup run fresh in the back of their minds.
On the other side, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has some talented strikers and forwards that will make things tough on the Black Stars, but the consistency just hasn't been there to justify believing that the Leopards will make a deep run or give Ghana enough trouble for an upset.
Still, DR Congo will bring highly touted scorers to the table, including Youssouf Mulumbu and Tresor Mputu—both of whom will be relied on heavily in this Cup.
As reported by BBC News, Ghana will have to contend with injuries to two of its top players:
"However, Ghana's chances have been hit by injuries to key players - Marseille midfielder Andre Ayew and the Ghanaian Premier League's leading scorer Yahaya Mohamed have both been ruled out.
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If these two teams don't break the goal-scoring drought on Sunday, then it might not be in the cards for any team to score at this 2013 event. Look for Ghana veteran Asamoah Gyan to lead up front while youngster Christian Atsu will be counted on for a spark and an infusion of youth. It should be a fun one to watch.
Mali vs. Niger: 1:00 p.m. ET
Mali is a squad you don't hear much about—but don't be fooled. The Eagles finished third in this event last year and have the potential to make a deep run out of this Group B pool into the next round of competition.
Led by ex-Barcelona star Seydou Keita, the Eagles also have attacking forward Chieck Diabate and will look to get out early in a battle of two teams that are relatively close to each other geographically.
For Niger, returning 16 players from last year's squad is an obvious plus, as are strong finishes in the qualifying round and subsequent matches. A squad with talent but little success, the Menas are in a tough group and will have to exceed expectations to advance to the next stage.
Watch out for Menas youngster Yacouba Ali, the 18-year-old star in waiting that will likely have to emerge for Niger to defeat a more talented Mali squad. The rest of the team, including youngsters Issoufou Boubacar Garba and Ouwo Moussa Maazou, will also be points of emphasis in the Menas attack.
Mali leans on Keita and Mahamadou Diarra for its attack and will look to defend its third-best ranking with a big win on Sunday.
Overall, the slate continues to impress in South Africa, and you won't want to miss these two Group B matches if you can avoid it.
Ethan Grant is a featured columnist for B/R's Breaking News Team.
