The Sky Blues against The Tractor Boys, Leicester v The Rams, along with Additional Football League Updates
Welcome to the busy evening of Football League as well as continental soccer fixtures. Our focus includes key Championship matches plus the crucial last group games in this Afcon tournament.
Opening Notes
Greetings to all. Welcome to what is arguably this penultimate soccer clockwatch of 2025. We have an extensive EFL programme, starting with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 6pm, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening fixtures from the first group at the Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco hosting Zambia as well as Comoros v Mali.
Our primary attention will be on the following fixtures, with 7.45pm kick-offs unless stated.
Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures
- The Coelacanths v Mali (7pm)
- The Copper Bullets versus The Atlas Lions (7pm)
Second Division Matches
- Coventry versus Ipswich (6pm)
- Leicester versus The Rams
- Boro v Hull
- Millwall v Bristol City
- The Red Dragons versus North End
Third Tier Fixture
- Cardiff v Stevenage
Recent Lineup Updates
Coventry v Ipswich Confirmed Lineups
The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting first and third in the second tier, looks like a cracker. Here are the confirmed lineups.
Coventry City (4-2-3-1) The goalkeeper; the right-back, the centre-back, the defender, Brau; the midfielder, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.
Subs: The backup keeper, Allen, Simms, the defender, Bidwell, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, the youngster, the player.
Ipswich (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; the defender, O’Shea, Kipre, the left-back; the midfielder, the midfielder; Walle, the playmaker, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.
Subs: The goalkeeper, the defender, Johnson, the defender, the midfielder, the winger, the forward, the attacker, the striker.
Referee Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria).
Africa Cup of Nations: Group A Scenarios
It's a tricky picture. It always is when some but not all third-placed sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's last set of games.
- The Atlas Lions 4 points, +2 goal difference
- Mali 2pts, GD0 (with 2 goals for)
- Zambia 2 points, GD0 (goals scored 1)
- The Coelacanths 1 point, -2 goal difference
In short, Morocco are probably fine but will want to beat Zambia and top their pool. Zambia probably need at least a point versus Morocco. The island nation probably must to overcome their rivals, who should advance with a draw.
A host of potential results and permutations.
Angola v Egypt Latest
The conclusion of the second group at this Africa Cup of Nations is being covered. For those wishing to remain unaware, avoid following that coverage.
Championship Standings 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 |
