Coventry against Ipswich, The Foxes against The Rams, along with More EFL League Updates
Greetings for the full night of Football League as well as continental football fixtures. We'll be covering important second-tier encounters and the crucial last pool games in the Africa Cup of Nations competition.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. You are welcome to the arguably the second-to-last football live blog of 2025. There’s a full EFL programme, starting with Coventry v Ipswich at 18:00, and we will also monitor at least a third of an eye on both night fixtures from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Mali facing Comoros.
We'll be focussing on the following games, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- Comoros v Mali (19:00)
- The Copper Bullets versus Morocco (7pm)
Championship
- Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
- Leicester v Derby
- Middlesbrough v The Tigers
- The Lions v The Robins
- Wrexham v Preston
League One
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Ipswich at Coventry Team News
The evening's opener, between the teams who are first and third in the second tier, could be a thriller. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; the right-back, Woolfenden, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, the captain; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Subs: The backup keeper, the midfielder, the forward, the defender, the full-back, the defender, the midfielder, Perry, Andrews.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) Walton; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; the attacker, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; Azon.
Substitutes: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-place sides qualify. This is the current state before this evening's last round of matches.
- Morocco 4 points, +2 goal difference
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2pts, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat Zambia to top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point against the hosts. Comoros likely must to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a point.
Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The denouement to the second group 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 Standings Overview
| 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 |
