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Hello for a busy night of EFL and continental football fixtures. The spotlight falls on key second-tier clashes plus those crucial last pool games in this Afcon tournament.

Opening Notes

Hello everyone. You are welcome to the checks writing desk rota the penultimate football live blog of 2025. We have an extensive Football League slate, kicking off with Ipswich's trip to Coventry at 18:00, while we’ll also be keeping a close watch on both evening fixtures from Group A at the Afcon: Zambia against the hosts Morocco and Mali facing Comoros.

Our primary attention will be on the following matches, with 7.45pm start times unless stated.

Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures

• The Coelacanths v The Eagles (19:00)
• Zambia versus Morocco (19:00)

Championship

• Coventry v The Tractor Boys (18:00)
• Leicester v The Rams
• Middlesbrough versus Hull
• Millwall v The Robins
• Wrexham v Preston

League One

• The Bluebirds v Stevenage

Latest Lineup Updates

Coventry v Ipswich Team News

The evening's opener, featuring the sides sitting top and third in the Championship, looks like a cracker. These are the starting elevens.

Coventry (a 4-2-3-1 formation) Rushworth; van Ewijk, the centre-back, the defender, the left-back; the midfielder, Grimes; the winger, Rudoni, Mason-Clark; Wright.

Substitutes: Wilson, Allen, the forward, the defender, Bidwell, the defender, Eccles, Perry, the player.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1) The shot-stopper; Furlong, O’Shea, the defender, Greaves; Matusiwa, the midfielder; the attacker, Nunez, Jack Clarke; the centre-forward.

Subs: The goalkeeper, Young, Johnson, Humphreys, the midfielder, the winger, McAteer, the attacker, the striker.

Referee Anthony Backhouse (from Cumbria).

Africa Cup of Nations: First Group Permutations

It's a tricky picture. That's often the case when some but not all third-place sides qualify. Here’s how things look ahead of this evening's final set of games.

• Morocco 4 points, GD+2
• Mali 2pts, 0 goal difference (goals scored 2)
• The Copper Bullets 2pts, GD0 (goals scored 1)
• The Coelacanths 1pt, -2 goal difference

To summarize, Morocco is likely safe though they will aim to beat their opponents to top their pool. Zambia likely requires a draw or better versus the hosts. Comoros likely need to overcome Mali, who will probably be okay if they get a point.

Many possibilities, various outcomes, plenty of scenarios.

Egypt's Match with Angola Update

The denouement of Group B at the continental championship is being covered. To avoid spoilers, don’t click the link.

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