Coventry v The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v Derby, along with More EFL Action Previews
Hello to the packed night of Football League and international football action. We'll be covering major second-tier matches plus the pivotal last pool matches in the Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate football live blog of 2025. We have a full EFL slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, and we will also monitor a close watch on the two evening games from the first group at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.
Our primary attention will be on the following matches, all 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v The Atlas Lions (19:00)
Championship
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (6pm)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Boro versus Hull
- Millwall versus The Robins
- The Red Dragons v Preston
League One
- The Bluebirds v Boro
Latest Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, promises to be an exciting match. These are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) The goalkeeper; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; Torp, Grimes; the winger, the attacking midfielder, the forward; Wright.
Subs: Wilson, Allen, the forward, the defender, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (a 4-2-3-1 setup) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, Burns, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before tonight’s last round of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4pts, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 1)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe but will want to defeat Zambia and top the group. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus Morocco. Comoros probably must to beat their rivals, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Latest
The denouement of Group B at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, it's best not to seek out that information.
Championship Table Snapshot
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coventry | 23 | 31 | 51 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 23 | 9 | 43 |
| 3 | Ipswich | 23 | 15 | 38 |
| 4 | Hull | 23 | 2 | 38 |
| 5 | Preston North End | 23 | 7 | 37 |
| 6 | Bristol City | 23 | 7 | 36 |
| 7 | Millwall | 23 | -6 | 36 |
| 8 | Watford | 23 | 4 | 35 |
| 9 | QPR | 23 | -2 | 35 |
| 10 | Stoke | 23 | 7 | 34 |
| 11 | Derby | 23 | 1 | 32 |
| 12 | Southampton | 23 | 4 | 31 |
| 13 | Wrexham | 23 | 2 | 31 |
| 14 | Leicester | 23 | -1 | 31 |
| 15 | Birmingham | 23 | 1 | 30 |
| 16 | West Brom | 23 | -5 | 28 |
| 17 | Charlton | 22 | -6 | 27 |
| 18 | Blackburn | 22 | -4 | 26 |
| 19 | Sheff Utd | 23 | -5 | 26 |
| 20 | Swansea | 23 | -7 | 26 |
| 21 | Oxford Utd | 23 | -8 | 22 |
| 22 | Portsmouth | 22 | -10 | 22 |
| 23 | Norwich | 23 | -9 | 21 |
| 24 | Sheff Wed | 22 | -27 | -8 |
