Africa Cup of Nations 2015: Schedule and how to watch on Day 10

We’ve closed the door on Group A, and now it’s time to figure out who will join Equatorial Guinea and Congo in the next round. Remember, both games are set for the same time again today.

It’s either fantastic or distressing, depending on whether you love a good underdog tale or prefer to see actual quality football. Now, you might argue that the teams that advanced -- Congo and Equatorial Guinea, in case you’ve already forgotten -- have, by virtue of getting through, demonstrated that they are higher quality than Gabon or Burkina Faso. Over three games, perhaps, but both advancing sides showed off some awfully boring and not-so-skillful stylings during those 270 minutes.

Still, they’re through, and if both Gabon and Burkina Faso didn’t have such potential for flair-y, fast football, we’d all be thrilled. Not only are these advancing sides both underdogs, but they weren’t even supposed to be here! Congo made it through only after Rwanda, who’d knocked them out, were found to be fielding an ineligible player. As for the hosts, they were the ones cheating, but managed to get themselves back in the tournament by offering to be the ones that staged it. So at least we’ve got our Cinderella stories.

Oh, goodness. Yesterday we were convinced that Gabon would keep hold of a top spot and Burkina Faso would score all the goals and advance as well. So it seems our crystal ball has gone a little smudgy.

See, we would tell you that Tunisia will advance, considering they’re top of the group and have yet to lose. But DR Congo, too, have yet to lose. But they love a draw, which would put Tunisia through. Would it put DRC through? Depends on Cape Verde, who also enjoy a good splitting of the points. Right now the two teams are level on points, as well as being level on every other tie-breaker employed by AFCON. Should Cape Verde and DRC produce the exact same result again today, there will need to be a drawing of lots. Otherwise, if both games end a draw, the team that scores the most goals will be through.

As for Zambia, well...well, they were meant to be the top team in this group. And look where that’s gotten them. Dead last. We’d like to think they’ll still pull this off but the Magic 8 Ball is refusing to give us a straight answer.

Thanks to Wikipedia for keeping these standings up-to-date

note: beIN Sports will be showing one of the two games, but the schedule doesn’t say which.

Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyín, Ebebiyín
Watch: beIN Sports Connect (USA and Canada); Eurosport 2 (where available); other viewing options available here

Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio de Bata, Bata
Watch: beIN Sports Connect (USA and Canada); Eurosport 1 (where available); other viewing options available here