The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester against Derby, and Additional EFL Action Updates
Welcome to a packed night of Football League as well as international soccer action. Our focus includes important second-tier matches and the pivotal last group games in the Afcon tournament.
Introduction
Oh, hi folks. You are welcome to what is arguably the penultimate football clockwatch of 2025. There’s a full EFL programme, kicking off with Coventry v Ipswich at 6pm, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco as well as Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, all 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths v Mali (19:00)
- Zambia v Morocco (19:00)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry v Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester v The Rams
- Boro versus The Tigers
- The Lions v Bristol City
- Wrexham v Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Recent Team News
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, promises to be a thriller. Here are the starting elevens.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, the forward; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, the full-back, the defender, Eccles, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) Walton; Furlong, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; Matusiwa, Taylor; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
The official Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last set of games.
- Morocco 4pts, GD+2
- The Eagles 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 2)
- The Copper Bullets 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- The Coelacanths 1pt, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat Zambia to win the group. Zambia probably need a draw or better against Morocco. The island nation probably need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay with a draw.
Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The final act to Group B at this continental championship has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, 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 |
