The Sky Blues versus The Tractor Boys, The Foxes v Derby, along with More EFL Action Updates
Hello for the packed night of Football League as well as international football fixtures. We'll be covering major Championship clashes plus those crucial final group matches in this Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Preamble
Hello everyone. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate soccer live blog of 2025. There’s an extensive Football League schedule, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on the two night games from the first group at this Afcon: Morocco hosting Zambia and Comoros v Mali.
We'll be focussing on these games, all 7.45pm kick-offs except where noted.
Afcon 2025
- The Coelacanths versus Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets v Morocco (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- The Sky Blues versus Ipswich (18:00)
- The Foxes versus Derby
- Middlesbrough versus The Tigers
- Millwall v The Robins
- The Red Dragons v Preston
League One
- Cardiff versus Stevenage
Latest Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Team News
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the Championship, could be a cracker. These are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry (4-2-3-1) Rushworth; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, the captain; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; the striker.
Substitutes: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, Kesler-Hayden, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, the youngster, Andrews.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, Greaves; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, the midfielder, Humphreys, Cajuste, the winger, the forward, Philogene-Bidace, the striker.
Referee Backhouse (from Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Permutations
The situation is complex. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. This is the current state ahead of tonight’s last set of matches.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, GD+2
- The Eagles 2 points, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- The Copper Bullets 2 points, 0 goal difference (with 1 goal for)
- Comoros 1pt, GD-2
Briefly, Morocco are probably fine but will want to defeat their opponents to win their pool. Zambia likely requires at least a point versus the hosts. The island nation likely need to overcome their rivals, who will probably be okay if they get a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Egypt's Match with Angola Update
The conclusion of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations has coverage elsewhere. If you don’t want to know the score, avoid following that coverage.
Second Tier Table 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 |
